Supporting the Tax Profession Working Group key messages 27 October 2020

Project groups

The Supporting the tax profession working group met on 27 October 2020 to allow the four project groups each focusing on a key challenge area to report on their progress.

The four project groups are:

• information and guidance
• flexible and adaptable processes
• changing roles and mental health support
• understanding long term impacts.

The individual project groups have been meeting fortnightly since 24 September 2020. The common themes across the four challenge areas identified to date include:

• clear communication and confidence in information provided
• timeliness of information
• flexibility of systems
• transparency around ATO processes and status of requests
• consistency in approach across Government departments
• better support for tax practitioners in the event of and following a crisis – particularly in relation to mental health related issues and ability of tax practitioners to adapt to operating in a virtual environment.

Focus areas and next steps for Supporting the Tax Profession working group

Information and guidance

The information and guidance project group will be focusing on improving access to information and understanding communication preferences of agents.

Flexible and adaptable

The flexible and adaptable project group will be focusing on developing a short-term rapid response framework to be used by the tax profession in times of crisis.

Changing roles and mental health support

The changing roles and mental health support project group will identify opportunities for the ATO to work with the tax profession to provide support in times of crisis.

Understanding long term impacts

The understanding long term impacts project group will be focusing on developing a long-term framework that can be used by the tax profession to provide support to the community and profession in times of crisis.

The four project groups will continue to meet on a fortnightly basis to further define their next steps and focus areas. A high-level update will be provided at the next Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group meeting on 13 November 2020