Accountants' privilege, access powers, and the Stewart and Denlay decisions
Source: Taxation In Australia Journal Article
Published Date: 1 Aug 2011
Access guidelines issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) limit the power of the ATO to have access to working papers consisting of advices prepared by external accountants about taxpayers' taxation affairs. That part of the access guidelines is known as "the accountants' concession". Two recent decisions of the Federal Court in the Stewart and Denlay matters have brought the concession into focus.
This article examines those decisions in detail, and relates them to two current reviews into the nature and scope of the concession and the exercise of access powers. In the author's view, the Stewart decision makes it clear that any material noncompliance by the ATO with the procedures stipulated in the accountants' concession is subject to judicial review, and it is therefore arguable that legislation is not necessary. Nevertheless, it is argued that the access guidelines need to be revised and, in particular, should be expanded to deal with documents in the possession of third parties.
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Details
- Published By: Chris C Branson
- Published On:1 Aug 2011
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