TPB urged to cite unethical accountants using social media

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has been urged to draw boundaries around accountants who use social media to encourage taxpayers to undertake unethical behaviour.

The Institute of Public Accountants has urged the TPB to provide examples as part of information sheets for accountants within the Tax Agent Services (Code of Professional Conduct) Determination.

The TPB has already provided a case study around upholding and promoting the ethical standards of the tax profession, but the IPA is urging it to go further to exemplify the use of social media.

It has suggested the extra case study deal with a situation “Where a registered practitioner constantly publicises views that are not technically correct and perhaps may be encouraging taxpayers or other agents to undertake unethical behaviour, for example through their personal or their practice’s LinkedIn or Facebook public accounts, website, blog articles, podcast interviews and online discussion groups”.

“These means of public communication of views and general advice are common. We recommend that the finalised guidance include some commentary or a case study outlining the TPB’s views of how s. 10 may apply in these circumstances,” the IPA submission said.

Elsewhere in its response to the TPB, the IPA has noted that non-compliance with the superannuation guarantee is a serious concern.

“We recommend that the final guidance provides detailed commentary and case studies or examples in relation to the extent to which s. 15 may apply in circumstances where a practitioner becomes aware that a client has not complied with their SG obligations in a previous quarter,” it said.