How to check a BAS agent's registration with the TPB
You can check a BAS agent's registration on the Tax Practitioners Board's public register. Search for the person or business you're engaging, then check the registration type, current status and any conditions. Finding a name in the results is only the first step.
A registration check is worth doing before signing an engagement letter or giving a provider access to your accounting file. It won't tell you whether you'll enjoy working together, but it can resolve a basic question: who is authorised to provide the paid BAS services you're buying?
Gather the details from the quote
Ask the provider for their legal entity name and TPB registration number. Keep the business or trading name as a separate field. A website brand, the person answering your email and the company issuing the invoice may have different names for legitimate reasons.
Use a small note like this:
| Detail | What to record |
|---|---|
| Name used in advertising | The brand you recognised |
| Entity on the engagement letter | The individual, company or partnership you're hiring |
| TPB registration number | The number supplied by that entity |
| Work being purchased | For example, quarterly BAS preparation and lodgement |
| Responsible practitioner | Who answers technical questions and reviews the work |
Don't send identity documents just to obtain these details. At this stage you're checking the provider, not completing their client onboarding.
Open the official register yourself
Go to the TPB public register from the TPB website. The register includes current practitioners and some records relating to unregistered practitioners. That is why a search hit shouldn't be treated as proof of current registration.
Search by registration number first if you have one. If not, try the legal name from the engagement letter rather than only the website brand. A company or partnership registration may be the relevant record even though you've been speaking with an individual.
The TPB's guide to using the register explains its filters and record fields. These include registration type and status, conditions, expiry information and certain regulatory actions. Company and partnership records also identify supervising registered individuals.
Read the record in context
Work through these questions rather than just looking for a familiar name:
- Does the legal name match the business you're about to engage?
- Is the registration type suitable for the work in your quote?
- Is the status current, or does the record show a suspension or termination?
- Are there conditions that could limit the proposed service?
- Does any recorded regulatory action need an explanation before you proceed?
A BAS registration and a tax agent registration are different, although tax agent registration also covers BAS services. Our BAS agent vs tax agent comparison explains the distinction.
An approaching expiry date is a reason to confirm renewal arrangements, not to announce that someone has lost their registration. If the status, expiry date and the provider's explanation seem inconsistent, ask the TPB for clarification before relying on the service.
What to do if you can't find a match
First check for simple errors: a digit copied incorrectly, an old trading name or a search restricted to the wrong state or registration type. Send the provider the details you searched and ask for a link to the correct record.
Suppose, in an illustrative example, the quote is branded Harbour Accounts but the engagement is with a differently named company. A satisfactory response would identify the company's record and explain the connection. A number belonging to an unrelated person doesn't resolve that mismatch.
Don't infer misconduct from one unsuccessful search. Equally, don't sign because a logo looks official. Pause the paid BAS engagement until you understand which registered entity will take responsibility.
If they say they work under someone else's registration
That explanation needs a little more detail. The TPB's registration rules and exemptions distinguish services provided in someone's own right from work done on behalf of a registered practitioner.
Ask for the name of the registered practice, who supervises the work, and confirmation that the engagement is with the entity accepting responsibility. You don't need to interrogate every staff member's qualifications. You do need to understand who you can turn to if a technical question or error arises.
An independent contractor arrangement can raise different issues. If the answer remains unclear, ask the TPB about the proposed arrangement rather than trying to decide it from a sales email.
Keep a dated record and check the scope
Save the record details and the date you checked them with your engagement documents. Recheck when renewing the engagement or when the responsible entity changes. Avoid publishing screenshots containing someone's personal information as part of a complaint on social media.
Registration doesn't settle fees, turnaround times, software access or what happens when your file is messy. Use the questions in choosing a BAS agent for a small business to agree on those details.
Key takeaways
- Search for the entity on your engagement letter, not just a website brand.
- Read status, type and conditions rather than relying on a name in the results.
- Ask how supervision works if the person doing the work isn't the registered practitioner.
- Resolve mismatches before providing access or relying on paid BAS advice.
Where to get help
The TPB is the source for registration checks and questions about its records. For help organising the work after you've chosen an agent, follow our bookkeeping and BAS guides.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check whether a BAS agent is registered?
Use the Tax Practitioners Board's public register. Search by registration number or name, then open the record and check the registration type, status and conditions.
Does appearing in the TPB register mean someone is registered?
No. The register also contains some unregistered practitioners and records of sanctions. Read the status and full record rather than relying on a search result.
What if the employee doing my books isn't individually registered?
Ask which registered individual, company or partnership is responsible for the engagement. An employee working on behalf of a registered practice may be covered by an exemption; someone providing services in their own right is a different case.
General information only. This guide doesn't take your personal or business circumstances into account and isn't financial, legal or tax advice. Rates and thresholds change — check the official sources linked in this guide and get qualified advice where your circumstances require it.