TPB Sanctions Update 2025: Essential Insights for BAS Agents

/ Accounting, Bookkeeping & BAS, Legislation, Payroll, Rulings & Regulations, Taxation
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Published: October 2025

Change is on the horizon for Australia’s bookkeeping and tax professionals with the TPB Sanctions Regime

At the 2025 Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) Conference, one of the major talking points was the government’s plan to strengthen the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) Sanctions Regime, a move designed to lift professional standards and reinforce trust in the industry.

For bookkeepers and BAS agents, understanding what’s coming is essential. At Applied Education, we’re committed to helping you stay ahead of regulatory changes so you can continue to deliver compliant, high-quality services to your clients.

Table of Contents

Why these changes are happening

The reforms stem from the 2019 James Review, which found that the TPB’s existing system didn’t go far enough in addressing practitioner misconduct. While the Board already has tools such as suspensions, terminations, and education orders, it has limited flexibility to deal with less severe breaches or respond quickly to new issues.

The government’s proposed updates, announced in December 2024, aim to modernise the framework, giving the TPB more effective ways to uphold standards and take action when things go wrong.

What the government is proposing

If implemented, the changes would:

  • Reintroduce criminal penalties for unregistered preparers
  • Increase civil penalties under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA)
  • Introduce infringement notices for minor breaches
  • Allow the TPB to apply to the Federal Court for civil penalty orders
  • Extend reapplication bans for terminated practitioners from 5 to 10 years
  • Strengthen enforcement of the Code of Professional Conduct

In simple terms, the TPB would have a wider range of options — from issuing warnings and infringement notices to applying serious sanctions for repeated or deliberate breaches. These measures aim to ensure fair and consistent standards across the entire tax and bookkeeping profession.

The proposals are currently under review, with a target implementation date of July 2026.

How the profession is responding

Professional bodies such as the ICB and the Joint Accounting Organisations have largely welcomed the changes. They support a principle-based approach that focuses on fairness, proportionality, and clarity.

In their response, they emphasised six key principles that should guide the new sanctions regime:

  • Comprehensive and coherent – a clear and consistent range of penalties
  • Agile – able to adapt to different situations and respond quickly
  • Effective – strong enough to promote compliance and deter misconduct
  • Proportionate – penalties that match the severity of the offence
  • Clear and consistent – easy for professionals to understand and follow
  • Fair and lawful – upholding natural justice and procedural fairness

This collaborative approach reflects a shared goal: maintaining public confidence while ensuring practitioners are treated justly and transparently.

What this means for bookkeepers and BAS agents

For those working in bookkeeping and BAS services, these updates highlight how important it is to stay registered, informed, and compliant. The TPB will have greater powers and expectations when it comes to enforcing professional conduct.

In practice, this means:

  • Stronger penalties for unregistered or non-compliant preparers
  • Greater scrutiny under the Code of Professional Conduct
  • More emphasis on ongoing professional development to stay up to date

It’s not just about avoiding penalties, it’s about demonstrating professionalism, ethics, and trustworthiness in a fast-changing industry.

To help you stay current and compliant, Applied Education offers TPB-approved BAS Agent, Tax Agent, Accounting, and Bookkeeping courses:

These programs also include membership opportunities with leading professional bodies such as the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and the Institute of Financial Professionals Australia (formerly Tax & Super Australia).

TPB Sanctions BAS Agents

How Applied Education can help

Regulation changes can seem complex, but they also strengthen the reputation of the industry and those who work within it. At Applied Education, we’re here to help you navigate these changes with confidence. Our Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Payroll courses are nationally recognised and align with TPB and ATO requirements — ensuring you gain the skills and knowledge needed for compliance and long-term career success.

Whether you’re working towards registration, advancing your qualifications, or simply keeping your skills current, Applied Education gives you the tools to succeed in a regulated and evolving profession.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on insights shared at the ICB Conference 2025, as well as materials and announcements from the Australian Treasury, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). It is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Legislative and regulatory details may change without notice.

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