The titles overlap, the regulation doesn't. In Australia two different regulators decide who may charge you for tax work and who may tell you what to do with your money, and a person can be registered for one, both or neither. Knowing which register someone is on tells you what they can lawfully do for you — and what they cannot.
The four roles
Registered tax agent
Registered by the Tax Practitioners Board under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 after meeting qualification, experience and fit-and-proper tests, bound by a Code of Professional Conduct, insured, and subject to TPB sanctions. May prepare and lodge income tax returns, activity statements and other ATO forms for a fee, advise on how tax law applies to you, and represent you with the ATO. Gets the agent lodgment program's later due dates.
Registered BAS agent
Also TPB-registered, with a narrower scope: GST, PAYG withholding, super guarantee, payroll and activity statements. Cannot prepare income tax returns or advise on income tax, CGT or FBT.
Accountant / tax consultant
Descriptions of what someone does, not licences. A qualified accountant may be a CPA, CA or IPA member (professional bodies with their own standards) and may or may not be a registered tax agent. Bookkeeping, management accounts, financial statements and business advice need no registration; charging for tax agent services does. A "tax consultant" who is not on the TPB register cannot lawfully charge you to prepare a return or give tax advice.
Financial adviser (financial planner)
Authorised under an Australian financial services licence regulated by ASIC, listed on the Financial Advisers Register, subject to education standards and the Financial Planners and Advisers Code of Ethics. May recommend financial products and strategies: super funds and contributions as a strategy, investments, insurance, retirement income, and (with a credit licence) borrowing. Can discuss tax only as it is incidental to that advice unless also TPB-registered.
Who can do what
| Task | Registered tax agent | BAS agent | Unregistered accountant / consultant | Licensed financial adviser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare and lodge your income tax return for a fee | Yes | No | No | No (unless also registered) |
| Prepare and lodge BAS, handle GST and PAYG withholding | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Advise how tax law applies to your situation | Yes | BAS matters only | No | Only incidental to financial advice |
| Deal with the ATO on your behalf | Yes | BAS matters only | No | No |
| Bookkeeping, management reports, financial statements | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not their role |
| Recommend a super fund, investment or insurance | No | No | No | Yes |
| Advise whether to borrow, and how much | No (credit licence needed) | No | No | Only with a credit licence |
| Explain the tax effect of a super contribution or asset sale | Yes | No | No | Incidental only |
| Set up a company or trust and keep it compliant | Yes | No | Set-up yes; tax advice no | No |
Which one for which question
- "How much tax will I pay on this?" — tax agent.
- "Should I put money into super / which fund?" — the tax agent for the tax effect, a licensed adviser for the decision and the fund.
- "Sole trader, company or trust?" — tax agent (tax, compliance, structure); a lawyer for asset protection and documents.
- "Can I afford this investment property?" — tax agent for the after-tax cost and the 2027 rules; a licensed adviser or broker for whether and how to finance it.
- "My BAS is late and the ATO is calling" — tax or BAS agent.
- "I'm retiring — what do I live on?" — licensed adviser, with the tax agent on the tax of each option.
Where SMT Accounting sits
SMT Accounting Pty Ltd is a registered tax agent (TPB 26266813) and provides tax agent, BAS, bookkeeping, payroll and business advisory services. Our team includes CPA and IPA members. We do not hold an Australian financial services licence or a credit licence, so we do not recommend investments, super funds, insurance or loans; where you need that, we introduce you to independent, appropriately licensed professionals whom you engage directly. That boundary is on every engagement letter and on our client information page.
Three checks before you engage anyone
- Find them on the register that matches what you are paying for — TPB for tax, ASIC for financial advice — and read the entry for conditions or sanctions.
- Get an engagement letter that says what they will do, what it costs and who is responsible for what. Registered agents must provide one; the absence of one is a warning.
- Ask what they will not do. A good practitioner names the limits of their licence without being asked twice.
Sources
- Tax Practitioners Board — Public register and What are tax agent services
- ASIC Moneysmart — Financial advisers register and Choosing a financial adviser
General information current at 30-10-2026, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tax consultant the same as a tax agent?
Not necessarily. 'Tax consultant' is a job title anyone can use. 'Registered tax agent' is a legal status granted by the Tax Practitioners Board after checks on qualifications, experience and fitness. Only a registered tax agent can lawfully charge a fee to prepare or lodge your return, give tax advice, or deal with the ATO for you. Many tax consultants are registered agents; check the TPB register to be sure.
Can my accountant give me financial advice?
Only if they hold, or are authorised under, an Australian financial services licence. An accountant without one can explain the tax consequences of a decision — what a super contribution saves, how a property sale is taxed — but cannot recommend a super fund, an investment, insurance or whether to borrow. SMT Accounting does not hold an AFSL and refers those questions to independent licensed advisers.
Can a financial adviser do my tax return?
Only if they are also a registered tax agent, or a 'qualified tax relevant provider' limited to advice that is incidental to their financial advice. Lodging returns and BAS, and representing you with the ATO, require TPB registration.
What's the difference between a tax agent and a BAS agent?
Both are registered by the TPB. A BAS agent can prepare and lodge activity statements, handle GST, PAYG withholding and super guarantee matters, and run payroll compliance. A tax agent can do all of that plus income tax returns and advice on income tax, CGT and FBT. SMT Accounting is registered as a tax agent, which covers both.
How do I check someone is registered?
Tax and BAS agents: search the TPB public register at tpb.gov.au by name or registration number (SMT Accounting Pty Ltd is 26266813). Financial advisers: search ASIC's Financial Advisers Register at moneysmart.gov.au, which shows their licence, authorisations and any bans. If a person is on neither register and is charging for tax or investment advice, walk away.
Who do I see about a tax question that is also a money question?
Often both, in order. A registered tax agent sets out the tax outcome of each option — for example, what salary sacrificing $10,000 saves. A licensed adviser then considers whether locking that money in super suits your goals and risk. Good practitioners refer to each other; a firm that claims to do everything should be able to show both registrations.