Terms & Conditions

 Here’s the not-so-fine print! Our Terms and Conditions are designed to keep things clear, fair, and simple. Have a quick read so we’re all on the same page from day one.

Terms and Conditions

Purpose, Scope and Output of the Engagement

This firm will provide accounting services that will be conducted under the relevant professional and ethical standards issued by the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board Limited (APESB).

We will endeavour to prepare your work within six - nine weeks of receiving all required information, including this accepted agreement & payment if applicable following our payment terms. Please get in touch with us to discuss turnaround time if you need this engagement completed sooner. Whilst we will try our best to meet your lodgement deadline, we will not be liable for any late lodgement penalties where you provide complete information less than four weeks before your lodgement date.

In providing these services, it is agreed that we will not undertake any independent audit of the prepared financial statements or income tax returns prepared. Our role will be limited to assisting in compiling the financial statements and preparing the relevant tax returns based on the information and records you provided. The financial statements prepared will contain an appropriate disclaimer that identifies the extent and limitations of our role. We are entitled to rely on the records provided as being both accurate and complete.

While our engagement does not include the audit of your financial statements or income tax returns, we are required by the Tax Agents Services Act 2009 to satisfy ourselves as to the reasonableness of the information and claims made in your income tax returns. The legislation provides the basis for this and may require us to make further enquiries with you from time to time about your taxation returns. Where possible, we will endeavour to identify the necessary information in advance. To ensure the efficient completion of your work, you agree to make available all information as is reasonably required for us to complete the various engagements agreed upon.

Some of your agreed work is subject to specific lodgement dates. We aim to ensure that all of your work is completed in time to meet these lodgement dates. This relies on receiving your information within a reasonable period before those due dates (our recommendation is not less than 30 days) and having timely answers to any queries raised. We will agree on a work program with you each year, including the dates for receiving your information and our completion date.

Occasionally, you may request that we undertake additional work for you other than what is described in this engagement letter. This will represent a separate engagement for which we will issue you a separate engagement letter.

A separate engagement letter will be issued for any audit engagements specific to that entity.

Period of Engagement

This engagement starts on

Proposal commencement date

and is valid until

Proposal end date

. We will not deal with earlier periods unless you specifically ask us to, and we agree.

Your obligations & rights

The Tax Agents Services Act 2009 requires us to advise you of your rights and obligations while acting for you on taxation matters. Concerning the taxation services provided:

You are subject to the self-assessment system for all your income tax returns. The Commissioner is entitled to rely on any statements made in your income tax returns. Where those statements are later found to be incorrect, the Commissioner may amend your income tax assessments, and, in addition to any tax assessed, you may also be liable for penalties and interest charges.

You must keep proper records that will substantiate the taxation returns prepared and which will satisfy the substantiation requirements of the Income Tax Assessment Act. Failure to maintain such documents could result in disallowed claims, additional tax imposed, and the imposition of penalty or general interest charges.

You are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the particulars and information required to comply with the various taxation laws. We will use this information supplied in the preparation of your returns.

Your rights as a taxpayer include the following:

The right to seek a private ruling;

The right to object to an assessment by the Commissioner;

The right to appeal against an adverse decision by the Commissioner.

Certain time limitations may exist for you to exercise these rights. Should you wish to exercise these rights at any time, you should contact us so that we can provide you with the relevant time frames and to discuss any additional requirements which may exist.

Fees

The scope of our engagement is the preparation and completion matters detailed in this agreement. Any agreed fee applies only to services and advice provided within the scope of our engagement. Where applicable, this fee includes the checking and forwarding of original assessments and original payment notices received from the Australian Taxation Office and ancillary telephone and email communications to clarify any aspect of the work we have undertaken as part of this engagement.

However, if the situation arises during this engagement where we discover other matters not apparent when preparing this fee proposal, we will cease work, contact you and agree to an amended fee for those additional services.

Please note, in particular, that any correspondence from the Australian Taxation Office that does not relate to initial assessments or original payment notices will be charged as additional services.

Disbursements & Subscriptions

Disbursements will be charged for legal expenses, couriers, research data, online costs and any statutory fee incurred on your behalf.

Where relevant, your Xero/MYOB subscription will be charged separately and in addition to any other service provided. Additional direct debit forms will be required before subscribing to the file. As the Subscriber for your Xero/MYOB subscription, we will always give you full access to your subscription, including if the business relationship between us terminates or there is a dispute. If you transfer your business to a new accountant, you must provide us with the name and email address of your chosen new Subscriber so we can transfer your subscription. We are bound by the Xero Partner Code of Conduct and a similar code with MYOB. This Code contains dispute resolution procedures and how your access to the Xero subscription will be maintained in the event of a dispute (including relating to non-payment of our fees) between you and us.

Payment Options

We have requested your payment details below to streamline our billing process. We may require payment details to be provided before beginning the agreed services in our engagement, with full payment in advance via direct debit or credit card. We accept Visa & Mastercard.

If you are in default of your obligation to pay us within the payment terms, the overdue invoice(s) may be referred to a debt collection agency and/or law firm for collection. We are charged commission and/or disbursements and/or legal fees; you agree that you will be liable to pay as a liquidated debt to us any commission, disbursements and legal fees payable by us.

Our payment terms are: Either upfront payment is required as listed in this engagement agreement or Payment due in full for all other engagements seven days from the issue of the Invoice. If the amount payable on the Invoice is not paid within 30 days of the date of that Invoice, then interest will be payable by you on the total unpaid amount calculated 30 days from the date of the Invoice until the actual date of payment at the rate of 24% per annum calculated daily.

Payment in full must be made before we lodge your Tax Returns with the ATO.

Should you wish to discuss an alternative arrangement, please let us know and we will be in touch to discuss your individual needs.

Referral arrangements

We have a recommended Financial Planner and, from time to time, may need to recommend that you obtain advice from them as they have an AFSL who can advise and recommend financial products and provide related financial services. We will put you in touch when the time is right.

We confirm that any fees, commissions or other benefits from financial advisers that we receive will be set out in your Statement of Advice should you wish to proceed with their services. Further, we do not guarantee the qualifications or appropriateness of any referral nor the advice received from any such adviser. We recommend that you carefully review the background of any referral and check that their services, charges and business model suit your needs.

AFSL disclaimers

For us to comply with the new AFSL regime, you will note disclaimers in our written documents that are required to ensure that you are on notice that an AFSL does not cover our advice and services.

ASIC & Corporate

Where applicable,

Practice name

confirms they have not provided financial or taxation advice concerning the requested company changes for any ASIC or Corporate related affairs. We recommend you consult an appropriate professional for specific advice tailored to your situation. While care has been taken in preparing the associated documents, no liability is accepted by

Practice name

, its related entities, agents and employees for any loss arising from reliance on this document.

Limitation of Liability

Our liability is limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Further information on the scheme is available from the Professional Standards Councils' website: www.professionalstandardscouncil.gov.au.

Director's Indemnity

If the entity invoiced by us for our services cannot discharge its liabilities, then the entity's Directors or Trustees agree to indemnify us for any such liability personally.

Ownership of Documents

We will prepare various working papers and notes consistent with our internal quality control system during our engagement. These working papers remain the property of our firm and will be retained by us to support any future queries on work completed. Source records provided by you to us to assist in the completion of your work will be returned to you after each engagement. Where appropriate, we may take copies to retain on your client file.

Outsourced Services

Acceptance of our services in conjunction with this engagement document indicates your acceptance of using our outsourced office services locally within Australia and overseas in the processing of services outlined in this engagement. Where the satellite office requires the disclosure of personal information to an overseas recipient, a consequence of your consent is that the

Practice name

will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure that the Australian Privacy Principles are complied with by the overseas recipients of the Personal Information.

Documentation

Before we lodge any returns on your behalf, we will forward the documents to you for approval. We will endeavour to ensure that the returns are lodged by the due dates and will advise you when documentation should be provided to us to undertake the work. If you are late in providing information, we will do our best to meet the time limits, but we will not be responsible for any late lodgement penalties or interest charges you may incur.

Use of Cloud Computing Services

We use Cloud Computing Software to manage, process and function our client's work and business operations. These cloud computing systems store files on remote servers operated by third parties, including hosting providers in the United States of America and Singapore.

Storage of documents

We also use Cloud Based Data Storage with servers located in Australia and overseas to house your documents and facilitate the transfer of data files and other information from clients.

The providers of this storage have privacy policies that are consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles.

Accepting our services as part of this engagement agreement indicates your acceptance of the outsourced services, cloud-hosted software and outsourced data storage under the above conditions.

If you would like a copy of our complete Privacy Policy or any other information concerning the security of your personal information and data, please get in touch with us, and we will be happy to provide further details.

Electronic Communications

We will communicate with you electronically, including sending you Commercial Electronic Messages (as defined in the SPAM Act 2003). You consent to us sending Electronic Communications to you and agree to be included in our e-newsletter subscription and important topical broadcasts as they arise occasionally. If you wish to unsubscribe from

Practice name

e-Newsletters, please follow the unsubscribe process by selecting 'unsubscribe' at the bottom of the email content.

Electronically transmitted information cannot be guaranteed to be secure or virus or error-free; consequently, such information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete or otherwise be adversely affected or unsafe to use. We will not be liable to you for any error, omission or loss of confidentiality arising from or in connection with the electronic communication of information.

The firm has a policy of exploring a legal right of lien over any client documents in our possession in case of a dispute.