| Anyone who has a bookkeeping business or is | | | | education requirements, do not be worried. There |
| thinking about starting their own bookkeeping | | | | are other avenues for you to consider enabling |
| business in Australia needs to be aware of the | | | | your BAS agent registration. If you have your |
| changes to legislation to have registered BAS | | | | own bookkeeping business and do not have the |
| Agents who are then eligible to provide Business | | | | minimum education qualification, there is a service |
| Activity Statement (BAS) services for a fee. The | | | | provided by educational institutions and also the |
| legislation is in the final stages and once it has | | | | National Institute of Accountants which may be of |
| been passed it will mean any bookkeeper wanting | | | | use to you. |
| to provide BAS services for a fee, must be | | | | Recognition of prior Learning (RPL) is the process |
| registered as a BAS agent or working under the | | | | where by you submit examples of you work to |
| supervision of a tax or BAS agent. This is causing | | | | meet the specific outcomes of a course. If you |
| some concern for bookkeepers who want to | | | | can prove with the examples that you have |
| include BAS services as part of their standard | | | | sufficient knowledge of the subject matter and |
| bookkeeping services as most small business | | | | meet the course outcomes, you can be awarded |
| owners expect the bookkeeper to do all BAS | | | | the qualification. |
| related functions. | | | | The RPL process means many bookkeepers in |
| To comply with the legislation changes and | | | | public practice with BAS and bookkeeping |
| become a registered BAS agent, a bookkeeper | | | | experience can apply for recognition of prior |
| who has 1400 hours experience and a minimum | | | | learning for the entire Certificate IV Financial |
| qualification of a certificate IV Financial Services | | | | Services (Accounting) or (Bookkeeping). If you |
| (Accounting) or a certificate IV Financial Services | | | | can meet the course requirements you can gain |
| (Bookkeeping) can apply for registration. | | | | the qualification without needing to undertake any |
| For a bookkeeper in public practice, this is not a | | | | study. |
| very high level of experience required to become | | | | If you have your own bookkeeping business and |
| registered. I also feel the added requirements of | | | | do not have the relevant qualifications, utilizing this |
| registration will improve the industry and make it | | | | process can give you the qualification you need to |
| more regulated to ensure a more professional | | | | become a registered BAS agent, which will |
| standard of service to clients. | | | | ultimately assist you in running and growing your |
| If you are a bookkeeper who does not meet the | | | | bookkeeping business. |