In accordance with recommendation 3.2 of the review of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB), the Morrison Government has taken steps to continue to enhance the TPB’s independence, fostering trust and confidence in the regulation of tax practitioners.

The Government has secured the Commissioner of Taxation’s agreement to delegate the power to appoint the TPB’s Chief Executive Officer to the TPB Chair. This means decisions about the day‑to‑day operations and overall direction of the TPB secretariat will effectively be under the control of the Chair.

This delegation ensures the CEO’s direct accountability to the Board, as recommended by the Review of the TPB conducted by Mr Keith James. As foreshadowed in the Government’s November 2020 response to the Review, this is being achieved efficiently, by avoiding the establishment of a new statutory authority and implementing changes that retain the flexibility and agility of current arrangements.

Tax practitioners recognise the importance of a strong and independent regulator. With these changes the Government will ensure that the separate, but related, and collaborative roles of the TPB and the ATO will continue to strengthen.

The ATO and the TPB intend to settle the necessary arrangements by 1 July 2022.