Fees & Terms

Fees:

Indicative fixed fee pricing for tax return preparation and lodgement:

Unless there is a fixed price agreement, all fees are payable at the following hourly rates for worked performed:

Our fees will be billed monthly plus direct out-of-pocket expenses. Payment of any account is required to be made within 14 days, unless special alternative arrangements are made with us prior to the due date.Sydney Accounting Practice reverses the right to vary hourly rates from time to time. The time charged is at 6 minute increments.

Important Notes

If payment is not received within a reasonable period, the services of any collection agency will be added to the fees and payable by you.

Terms:

You will be responsible for maintaining adequate tax records. You also acknowledge that it’s your responsibility for the reliability, accuracy and completeness of the tax records and that you have disclosed to us all material and relevant information.

Our involvement in this type of engagement will not disclose fraud, defalcations or other irregularities which may occur. However, any material weaknesses in the accounting or internal control systems which come to our notice will be drawn to your attention.

Please be aware that:

1. a taxpayer has obligations under self assessment to keep full and proper records in order to facilitate the preparation of accurate returns.
2. you will be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of input data provided in relation to taxation services and this responsibility rests with you
3. any advice given to you is only an opinion based on our knowledge of your particular circumstances; and

Any information acquired by us in the course of our engagement is subject to strict confidentiality requirements. Information will not be disclosed by us to other parties except as required or allowed for by law or professional standards, or with your express consent. Our files may, however, be subject to review as part of the quality control review program of CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants ANZ which monitors compliance with professional standards by its members. We advise you that by engaging our services you acknowledge that, if requested, our files relating to this engagement will be made available under this program. The same strict confidentiality requirements apply under this program as apply to us.

A taxpayer is responsible under self assessment to keep full and proper records in order to facilitate the preparation of a correct return. Whilst the Commissioner of Taxation will accept claims made by a taxpayer in an income tax return and issue a notice of assessment, usually without adjustment, the return may be subject to later review. Under the taxation law such a review may take place within a period of up to 5 years after tax becomes due and payable under the assessment. Furthermore, where there is fraud or evasion there is no time limit on amending the assessment. Accordingly, you should check the return before it is signed to ensure that the information in the return is accurate.

Where the application of a taxation law to your particular circumstances is uncertain you also have the right to request a private ruling which will set out the Commissioner’s opinion about the way a taxation law applies, or would apply, to you in those circumstances. You must provide a description of all of the facts (with supporting documentation) that are relevant to your scheme or circumstances in your private ruling application. If there is any material difference between the facts set out in the ruling and what you actually do the private ruling is ineffective.

If you rely on a private ruling you have received, the Commissioner must administer the law in the way set out in the ruling, unless it is found to be incorrect and applying the law correctly would lead to a better outcome for you. Where you disagree with the decision in the private ruling, or the Commissioner fails to issue such a ruling, you can lodge an objection against the ruling if it relates to income tax, fuel tax credit or fringe benefits tax. Your time limits in lodging an objection will depend on whether you are issued an assessment for the matter (or period) covered by the private ruling.

Ownership of Documents 

The final Financial Statements, Income Tax Returns and any other documents which we are specifically engaged to prepare, together with any original documents given to us by you, shall be the property of you. Any other documents brought into existence by us including general journals, working papers, the general ledger, draft financial statements and copies of tax returns, will remain our property at all times. Emails sent/received on the server of sydneyaccountingpractice.com.au shall remain our property at all times.

Lien on Documents 

In relation to any subsequent termination of our services, you are advised that we shall be entitled to retain all documents belonging to you and any related parties we act for until payment is received in full for all outstanding fees.

Period of Engagement

This engagement will commence on the first appointment date.  The first period for which we will be responsible is tax year ending that we advise on the day.

Limited Liability Disclosure Statement

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Further information on the scheme is available from the Professional Standards Councils’ website: https://www.psc.gov.au/legislation