TPB terminates registration of QLD accounting practice

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has confirmed the tax agent registration of Queensland-based Can Do Accounting Services Pty Ltd has been terminated, after an investigation revealed the conduct of its sole director had resulted in “serious breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct”.

The TPB determined Ruaidhri Carslake “misrepresented [the company’s] supervisory arrangements over a four-year period” and lodged over 3,000 tax returns during this period without the required “proper oversight”, as he himself had never been a registered tax agent and had “falsely listed supervising agents without their consent or involvement”.

These findings and the resulting two-year ban on Can Do Accounting’s re-registration and determination that Carslake was “not a fit and proper person to be involved in the provision of tax agent services” were also upheld in a recent Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) decision, following the accounting firm’s application to the tribunal for a review.

The ART’s decision confirmed that the termination of Can Do Accounting has taken effect and it is no longer able to provide any tax agent services, with the registration of related entity CanDo Advisory Pty Ltd also terminated.

“Mr Carslake fell short of the expectations required by a company director,” TPB Chair, Peter de Cure AM, said.

“He abused his position of influence and trust in his small community, putting his clients at risk by lodging on their behalf without the necessary qualifications and skills required of a registered tax practitioner. This termination emphasises the need for adequate supervision and the competent provision of tax agent services and helps to maintain the quality and reliability of services provided to clients.

“Cases like these have a detrimental impact on public confidence in the tax profession. We will continue to reinforce the importance of honesty and integrity and ensure tax agents adhere to high ethical standards. This outcome serves as a strong deterrent and supports our commitment to building a trustworthy, competent, and ethical profession, which is essential for the effective functioning of the tax system.”

The TPB said Can Do Accounting and Carslake’s breaches of the Code included allowing unregistered individuals to use their registration to provide tax agent services to clients and not maintaining proper supervision and control.