BAS Agent Registration & Your Bookkeeping Business

The introduction of BAS Agents has had an impact on the Australian Bookkeeping industry. The ATO is making the profession more educated and accountable with the introduction of registration. Ultimately this will benefit the bookkeeping profession by making bookkeepers who want BAS Agent status to have formal qualifications and have extensive experience.

For bookkeepers in the their own business, or those who are starting, it will be a great benefit to obtain registration and use it on marketing materials and correspondence.

If you are wanting to gain BAS agent status, the minimum qualification in a certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping) or (Accounting).

If you do not have the formal qualifications, you can always get qualified using Recognition of Prior Learning. This system assesses your experience against the outcomes of the qualification and if you meet the standard you receive the recognised qualification. If you meet some of the outcomes but not all, the assessors will let you know which areas need additional attention and you can obtain the skills in the applicable areas and then receive the qualification.

Realistically, most experienced bookkeepers will meet the outcomes in the level 4 certificates, so if you don't have any formal qualifications, look at the RPL options and get started soon so you can meet the education requirements when the legislation is introduced.

Additionally, you can investigate other options such as joining a body which will comply with the supervision ruling such as the Australian Bookkeepers Network. They have a BAS wizard program specifically for Bookkeepers wishing to charge a fee for BAS services who do not meet the qualification requirements. Of course there are also a number of professional bookkeeping associations now as well which can assist with further information such as the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and The Association of Accounting Technicians just to name a few.

Remember for information on how to start, run and grow your bookkeeping business, subscribe to the e-course.

Of course detailed information and strategies to start, run and grow your bookkeeping business can be found in the book, "My Bookkeeping Business, How to Start, Run and Grow your Bookkeeping Business"