How to Choose a Registered Tax Agent in Melbourne (TPB Checklist)
Start with one check: search the person's name or business on the Tax Practitioners Board public register at tpb.gov.au. If they're not listed as "Registered," they cannot legally charge to prepare your tax return, and nothing else about them matters. Everything below assumes they pass that first test, then helps you separate a genuinely good Melbourne tax agent from one who simply holds a licence.
We're RPS Accountants & Business Advisors in Epping (TPB No. 26161185), and we've picked up plenty of clients cleaning up returns lodged by agents who were registered but wrong for the job. A licence is the floor, not the ceiling. Here's the full checklist.
First, know what "registered tax agent" actually means
Only a registered tax agent can charge a fee to prepare and lodge your income tax return. A bookkeeper or BAS agent can handle BAS and payroll but cannot legally lodge your return for payment. A person calling themselves an "accountant" may hold a CA or CPA qualification yet still need tax agent registration to charge for returns. The title on the door isn't the credential. The TPB registration is.
The TPB register check, step by step
This is the non-negotiable part, and it takes two minutes.
Go to the TPB public register and search by the agent's name, business name, or registration number. On their profile, confirm three things. Status must read "Registered," not expired, suspended, or terminated. The expiry date should be in the future, which means their credentials are current. The conditions and sanctions field should be clear; the register publicly lists any conditions imposed or disciplinary action taken, and most people never scroll down to look. If the search returns nothing, or the details don't match the business card you were handed, stop there.
A legitimate agent also displays the Registered Tax Practitioner symbol and their TPB number on their website. You'll find ours in our site footer and on our about page.
Red flags that should end the conversation
Registration alone won't protect you from a bad operator. These behaviours should.
A refund promised before they've seen a single document. No agent can know your outcome in advance, and this is the oldest hook in the book. A fee charged as a percentage of your refund. This is a direct incentive to inflate your deductions, and you carry the risk when the ATO reviews it, not them. Cash-only arrangements with no proper invoice or written engagement. A return lodged in minutes with no questions asked about your work, income, or records. And any request to sign a blank or incomplete return. Walk away from any one of these, even if the TPB status is clean.
What separates a good agent from a merely registered one
Once someone clears the register and the red flags, judge them on fit.
They ask before they lodge. A good agent wants to understand your occupation, income sources, and records before touching the return. That questioning is where deductions are found and errors are avoided. Fast isn't good if it's blind. This is the core of how our taxation service works: the interview comes first, the lodgement second.
Their fees are fixed and stated upfront. You should know the price before work starts, and know whether it includes handling ATO correspondence if a question comes back later. Hourly surprises at invoice time are a sign of poor process.
They specialise in situations like yours. An agent who mostly handles simple PAYG returns may not be the right choice for a rental portfolio, an SMSF, or a growing business. Ask directly what proportion of their clients look like you. For business owners, tax preparation is only half the value; the other half is planning, which is why we pair returns with a business advisory service rather than treating lodgement as the finish line.
They're contactable after tax time. Tax questions don't only arrive in October. A good agent is reachable in February when the ATO writes to you or when you're weighing a decision.
The 2024 Code rules that now work in your favour
Since the Tax Agent Services (Code of Professional Conduct) Determination 2024, registered agents have new obligations to disclose certain matters to clients, including how to check the register and how to make a complaint to the TPB. If an agent won't point you to the public register or explain the complaints process, they're not just being unhelpful, they're out of step with the current Code. Use that. A confident, compliant agent will happily walk you through both.
A quick local consideration for Melbourne
Decide whether you want in-person or online. Many capable agents work entirely remotely, which is fine if your records are digital and your situation is clean. But if you'd rather sit across a desk, especially for a business or a complex year, a local office matters. Our clients across Melbourne's northern suburbs use our Epping office precisely because they want a face and a phone number, not a portal.
FAQs
Is it illegal to charge for tax returns without TPB registration? Yes. Preparing or lodging tax returns for a fee without being a registered tax agent is against the law in Australia. Always confirm registration before engaging anyone.
What's the difference between a tax agent and a BAS agent? A registered tax agent can prepare and lodge income tax returns. A BAS agent is limited to BAS, GST, and payroll-related lodgements. Some practitioners hold both registrations.
Can I change tax agents if I'm not happy? Yes, at any time. Your new agent can request your prior records through the ATO portal, and no explanation to the old agent is required.
Does a CA or CPA qualification mean someone is a registered tax agent? Not necessarily. The qualification shows accounting training, but they still need current TPB registration to charge for preparing your return. Check both.
Want to run the checklist against us before you commit? Search TPB No. 26161185 on the public register, then book a free 30-minute chat with our Epping team. Bring your questions; a good agent expects them.
