Terms and Conditions

Gold Standard Tax & Accounting
Last updated: 9 July 2026

These Terms and Conditions apply to your use of this website and to any enquiry, booking, onboarding form, proposal, engagement, document upload, client portal use, tax return preparation, accounting service, bookkeeping service, BAS service, or related service provided by Gold Standard Tax & Accounting. By using this website, submitting an enquiry, booking an appointment, completing a form, uploading documents, approving a proposal, signing an engagement letter, or instructing us to provide services, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. These Terms should be read together with any proposal, engagement letter, invoice, client declaration, privacy policy, written quote, client portal request, or other written agreement provided to you. If there is any inconsistency, the signed proposal or engagement letter will apply to the extent of the inconsistency.

 

1. About Gold Standard Tax & Accounting

 

Gold Standard Tax & Accounting provides taxation, accounting, bookkeeping, BAS, and related support services to individuals, sole traders, companies, trusts, and small businesses. As a trainee tax agent, taxation services are offered through the Registered Business Name Gold Standard Tax & Accounting, ABN [insert ABN], under the supervision of The Accounting Academy Services Pty Limited ABN 93 671 788 355, registered tax agent number 26233096. All taxation services are monitored under this supervision arrangement to support accuracy, compliance, and professional standards.

 

2. Website information is general only

 

The information on this website is general in nature. It does not take into account your personal circumstances, business structure, income sources, deductions, tax residency, assets, liabilities, accounting records, or obligations.

Nothing on this website should be treated as personal taxation, accounting, financial, legal, investment, business, or superannuation advice unless you have formally engaged us and we have reviewed your specific circumstances. You should not rely solely on website content when making tax, financial, legal, or business decisions.

 

3. No client relationship until accepted

 

Submitting an enquiry, booking a consultation, completing a form, sending an email, uploading documents, or using the client portal does not automatically create a client relationship.

A client relationship begins only when we accept your engagement. This may occur through a signed proposal, a signed engagement letter, an accepted quote, written confirmation, client portal acceptance, or another agreed-upon onboarding process.

We may decline or stop work where the matter is outside our scope, information is incomplete, a conflict of interest exists, fees remain unpaid, the deadline cannot reasonably be met, or professional obligations prevent us from acting.

 

4. Tax agent supervision and professional obligations

 

Tax agent services are provided under the supervision of The Accounting Academy Services Pty Limited ABN 93 671 788 355, registered tax agent number 26233096.

The Tax Practitioners Board is the national body responsible for registering and regulating tax practitioners. You can search the TPB Register at:

www.tpb.gov.au/registrations

We are required to comply with applicable taxation laws, professional obligations, and standards of conduct. This includes obligations relating to honesty, integrity, confidentiality, competence, conflicts of interest, client verification, and taking reasonable care.

 

5. Complaints

 

We aim to provide a professional, reliable, and responsive service. If you are not satisfied with the service you receive, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the matter.

 

 

For complaints relating to supervised tax agent services, you may also contact:

 

 

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may lodge a complaint with the Tax Practitioners Board at: www.tpb.gov.au/complaints

 

6. Services we may provide

 

Our services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Individual tax returns
  • Sole trader tax returns
  • Company tax returns
  • Trust tax returns
  • Rental property schedules
  • Business income and deduction reviews
  • BAS and IAS support
  • Bookkeeping support
  • Accounting software setup and support
  • Tax-related document collection and organisation
  • ATO correspondence support, where specifically agreed
  • Preparation of schedules, workpapers, reports, and summaries
  • General tax and accounting support

 

The exact services included in your engagement will be set out in your proposal, quote, invoice, engagement letter, client portal request, or written agreement.

 

7. Services not included unless agreed

 

Unless specifically agreed in writing, our services do not include:

  • Legal advice
  • Financial planning advice
  • Investment advice
  • Insurance advice
  • Audit services
  • Statutory financial audits
  • Insolvency advice
  • SMSF audit services
  • Finance application reports
  • Special purpose reports for lenders
  • ATO audit, review, objection, or investigation support
  • ASIC dispute work
  • Complex restructuring advice
  • Business valuations
  • Advice outside taxation, accounting, bookkeeping, or BAS support

 

If you require services outside the agreed scope, we may provide a separate quote or refer you to another professional.

 

8. Scope of engagement

 

The scope of work is limited to the services specifically agreed with you.

Any proposal, engagement letter, quote, invoice, or written agreement will set out the work we have agreed to perform. Work outside that agreed scope is not included unless we confirm otherwise in writing. Additional work may include, but is not limited to:

  • Responding to ATO reviews, audits, investigations, or requests for information
  • Amending prior year tax returns
  • Correcting incomplete or inaccurate records
  • Reconstructing bookkeeping records
  • Reviewing or preparing rental property schedules
  • Reviewing logbooks or deduction calculations
  • Preparing finance reports or third-party letters
  • Reviewing cryptocurrency reports
  • Capital gains tax calculations
  • Complex business structure matters
  • Work caused by missing, late, or inaccurate information
  • Any advice or service not clearly included in the accepted proposal

 

Out-of-scope work may be quoted separately or charged at the applicable hourly rate.

 

9. Client responsibilities

 

You are responsible for providing complete, accurate, and timely information.

You must tell us about all relevant income, deductions, assets, liabilities, business activity, tax residency matters, spouse details, dependants, private health insurance, government payments, foreign income, capital gains, rental properties, cryptocurrency, shares, business records, ATO debts, prior year issues, and any other matter relevant to your tax or accounting affairs. You must provide all documents and explanations reasonably required to complete the work.

You are responsible for ensuring that information provided to us is true, correct, complete, and not misleading.

 

10. Client declaration

 

Before lodgement or finalisation of a tax return, BAS, form, declaration, or other document, you may be required to review and approve the information. By signing or approving a declaration, you confirm that the information provided by you and any supporting documents are true and correct to the best of your knowledge. Providing false, incomplete, or misleading information may have legal and taxation consequences.

 

11. Records and substantiation

 

You are responsible for keeping records that support your income, deductions, GST claims, tax positions, and accounting records. This may include receipts, invoices, bank statements, loan statements, rental property statements, logbooks, diaries, reports, trading platform statements, cryptocurrency reports, dividend statements, interest statements, payroll records, superannuation records, trust documents, company documents, and other written evidence. We may ask for evidence before including a claim. If adequate evidence is not provided, the claim may be excluded or delayed. We are not responsible for penalties, interest, amended assessments, denied deductions, or other consequences arising from incomplete, incorrect, late, missing, altered, or unsupported records.

 

12. ATO pre-fill and third-party information

 

Where available, we may use ATO pre-fill information, employer records, bank information, accounting software, government records, or third-party data. You must still check that all information is complete and correct. ATO pre-fill information may be incomplete, delayed, duplicated, or incorrect. You remain responsible for telling us about income, deductions, assets, disposals, foreign income, private health insurance, spouse details, and any other tax-relevant information, even if it does not appear in pre-fill data.

 

13. Tax file numbers and identity verification

 

Tax file numbers, identity documents, bank account details, and other sensitive information must be provided using an approved secure method where requested. We may request identity verification before acting on your behalf. This may include a driver licence, passport, Medicare card, video call verification, or other reasonable identification process. We may decline to act or pause work if identity verification is not completed.

 

14. Authority to access tax agent portal

 

Where required to perform the agreed services, you authorise the relevant registered tax agent or authorised representative to link, access, review, and manage your tax records through the tax agent portal or other approved ATO systems. This authority is limited to what is reasonably required to provide the agreed services, meet professional obligations, and manage your taxation affairs.

 

15. Fees, quotes, and pricing

 

Fees may be charged as fixed, package, hourly, minimum, or a combination of these. Any quote or estimate is based on the information available at the time. If the work required is greater than expected, records are incomplete, additional issues are identified, or the scope changes, additional fees may apply. Fees may vary depending on complexity, urgency, record quality, number of income sources, business activity, rental properties, cryptocurrency, capital gains, late lodgements, ATO issues, and the amount of review or correction required. All prices are exclusive of GST unless stated otherwise.

 

16. Payment terms

 

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due within 7 days of the invoice date.

For tax return and lodgement work, payment may be required before lodgement, release of final documents, or completion of the service. We may pause work, withhold lodgement, withhold final documents, or decline further services where invoices remain unpaid. Accounts more than 30 days overdue may incur administration fees, interest, debt recovery fees, legal costs, or collection costs where permitted by law and where stated in the relevant engagement terms.

 

17. Payment before lodgement

 

For taxation services, we may require payment before lodging a tax return, BAS, IAS, or other form.

If payment is not received in time, lodgement may be delayed. You remain responsible for any penalties, interest, or consequences resulting from delayed payment or delayed provision of information.

 

18. Refunds and cancellations

If you cancel after work has started, you may be charged for work completed up to the cancellation date.

Fees already paid may be applied against time spent, review work, administration, software processing, document preparation, consultation time, and work already performed. Refunds are not automatically available where work has already commenced or been completed. If we are unable to complete the engagement for professional, legal, ethical, practical, or compliance reasons, we will review the circumstances and determine whether a refund or adjustment is appropriate.

 

19. Deadlines and lodgement dates

 

We will make reasonable efforts to meet agreed deadlines. However, deadlines depend on you providing complete and accurate information in a timely manner. We are not responsible for delays caused by late documents, incomplete information, unanswered questions, third-party delays, ATO system issues, software issues, bank delays, payroll delays, bookkeeping errors, or other matters outside our control. If you provide information close to the lodgement deadline, we may not be able to complete the work before it.

 

20. Late, incomplete, or incorrect information

 

If information is provided late, incomplete, or incorrectly, additional work may be required.

Any rectification, rework, amendment, correction, reconciliation, or additional review caused by late, incomplete, or incorrect information may be treated as out-of-scope work and charged separately. You remain responsible for any penalties, interest, tax shortfalls, amended assessments, or other consequences arising from incorrect or incomplete information provided by you.

 

21. BAS and GST services

 

When we prepare BAS, IAS, or GST-related work, we rely on information from you, your accounting software, your bookkeeper, your payroll system, your bank feeds, and other available records.

Unless specifically agreed, BAS preparation does not include a full audit or review of all source documents.

You are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Business records are complete and accurate
  • GST has been correctly coded
  • Input tax credits are supported by valid tax invoices
  • Sales, income, expenses, wages, PAYG withholding, and GST amounts are correctly recorded
  • You hold supporting documents for all claims
  • Accounting software records are accurate and up to date

 

If errors or discrepancies are later identified, additional work may be required, and additional fees may apply.

 

22. Bookkeeping and accounting records

 

Where bookkeeping or accounting work is included, you are responsible for providing access to accurate bank statements, invoices, receipts, payroll records, loan statements, software files, and other relevant documents.

You remain responsible for business systems, internal controls, record keeping, stocktakes, cash handling, payroll obligations, and the accuracy of information provided to us. We are not engaged to conduct a statutory audit or express an audit opinion unless this is specifically agreed in writing.

 

23. Income tax returns

 

Where we prepare income tax returns, we rely on you to provide all required information and supporting documents.

You must tell us about all income, including salary and wages, government payments, interest, dividends, trust distributions, partnership income, business income, rental income, foreign income, cryptocurrency income, capital gains, superannuation income, compensation, insurance proceeds, and any other income. You must also provide details and evidence for deductions, offsets, private health insurance, student loan debts, Medicare levy matters, spouse details, dependants, residency, bank account details, prior year losses, and any ATO debts, reviews, disputes, or objections.

 

24. Rental properties

 

For rental property matters, you must provide complete details of rental income, ownership percentage, purchase or sale details, refinancing, private use, periods available for rent, property manager statements, loan interest, repairs, body corporate fees, rates, insurance, depreciation, capital works, and other relevant expenses. Unless specifically agreed, we do not audit property manager statements, rental schedules, loan statements, logbooks, spreadsheets, or calculations prepared by you or third parties.

 

25. Shares, cryptocurrency, and capital gains

 

You must tell us if you sold, transferred, gifted, swapped, disposed of, or otherwise dealt with shares, units, managed funds, property, cryptocurrency, or other assets. You must provide adequate records showing purchase dates, purchase prices, sale dates, sale proceeds, fees, transaction reports, exchange reports, wallet records, staking income, airdrops, rewards, and any other relevant information. Capital gains tax and cryptocurrency matters may require additional work and may be quoted separately.

 

26. Companies and trusts

 

For company and trust tax returns, you must provide all relevant entity details, ABN, TFN, registered address, accounting software access, prior year returns, financial statements, company registration documents, constitutions, trust deeds, deed amendments, trustee details, beneficiary details, director/shareholder details, bank account details, and any other relevant records. You are responsible for ensuring the entity’s legal, accounting, and tax records are complete and accurate.

 

27. Communication

 

We may communicate with you by email, phone, SMS, video call, secure portal, website form, electronic signature platform, accounting software, or other agreed communication methods. You are responsible for monitoring the communication details you provide and responding within a reasonable time.

For security reasons, we may require sensitive information to be submitted through a secure portal or an approved upload process rather than via ordinary email.

 

28. Client portal and online systems

 

We may use client portals, cloud software, electronic signatures, online forms, accounting software, secure file requests, booking tools, payment systems, and other online platforms to deliver services.

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your own devices, passwords, email account, internet connection, and login details. You must not upload unlawful, offensive, misleading, harmful, irrelevant, or malicious material.

We are not responsible for delays or issues caused by your device, internet connection, browser settings, email security, forgotten passwords, or third-party platform outages.

 

29. Online firm

 

Gold Standard Tax & Accounting may operate as an online or virtual firm. Services may be provided remotely using phone, email, video meetings, client portals, and cloud-based systems. A physical office appointment may not be available unless specifically agreed.

 

30. Cloud systems and data storage

 

We may use cloud-based systems and third-party software to store, process, and manage client data. This may include accounting software, practice management software, client portals, email systems, secure document storage, electronic signature systems, and related tools. The physical location of third-party servers may not be under our control and may be outside Australia. We take reasonable steps to protect client information, including secure passwords, software protections, access controls, and ongoing improvement of internal systems.

 

31. Generative AI and technology use

 

We may use technology tools, including automation or artificial intelligence tools, for approved business purposes such as drafting, summarising, administration, workflow support, or document organisation. Sensitive or confidential client information should not be entered into generative AI tools unless appropriate safeguards, permissions, or business controls are in place. Use of technology does not replace professional judgement, review, or supervision where required.

 

32. Privacy

 

We collect personal information, tax information, financial information, identity information, business information, and other details required to provide our services. This information may be collected through website forms, onboarding forms, client portals, emails, phone calls, video calls, accounting software, third-party providers, and ATO systems.

Your information is used for the purpose of providing tax, accounting, bookkeeping, BAS, compliance, administration, billing, client verification, and related services. Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy obligations and our Privacy Policy. You should read our Privacy Policy before submitting personal or sensitive information.

 

33. Confidentiality

 

We will take reasonable steps to keep your information confidential.

We may disclose information where:

  • You authorise the disclosure
  • Disclosure is required to provide the agreed services
  • Disclosure is required to a supervising or registered tax practitioner
  • Disclosure is required to The Accounting Academy Services Pty Limited
  • Disclosure is required to software providers, contractors, consultants, or professional service providers assisting with the engagement
  • Disclosure is required by law, regulation, court order, ATO request, TPB requirement, professional obligation, or government authority
  • Disclosure is required for quality control, compliance, insurance, risk management, or professional review purposes

 

34. Third parties

 

We may use third parties to assist with providing services. This may include contractors, consultants, supervisors, software providers, cloud storage providers, outsourcing providers, payment providers, and professional advisers.

Third parties may include:

  • The Accounting Academy Services Pty Limited
  • The Accounting Academy Pty Ltd
  • Daniel van der Heyden and associated entities
  • Accounting software providers
  • Client portal providers
  • Secure document storage providers
  • Electronic signature providers
  • Payment processors
  • IT and cybersecurity providers
  • Other professional service providers where reasonably required

 

We will take reasonable steps to ensure third parties are used appropriately and consistently with our professional and privacy obligations.

 

35. Document ownership and retention

 

Final documents prepared specifically for you, such as lodged tax returns, financial statements, completed reports, and original documents provided by you, are your property once all outstanding fees have been paid. Internal working papers, drafts, review notes, calculations, checklists, internal templates, general ledger workpapers, and other documents created by us for internal purposes remain our property. We may retain copies of client documents and working papers as required by law, professional obligations, supervision requirements, insurance, quality control, or business record keeping. If fees remain unpaid, we may retain documents to the extent permitted by law and professional obligations.

 

36. Review and approval before lodgement

 

Before lodging a tax return, BAS, IAS, or other document, we may provide documents to you for review and approval.

You must carefully check all information before signing, approving, or authorising lodgement.

Your approval confirms that the information is complete, accurate, and not misleading to the best of your knowledge.

 

37. ATO assessments and correspondence

 

After lodgement, the ATO may issue notices of assessment, statements of account, requests for information, amended assessments, penalties, interest charges, or other correspondence. Unless specifically included in your engagement, responding to ATO reviews, audits, investigations, amended assessments, objections, penalties, payment plans, or correspondence is additional work and may be charged separately.

 

38. No guarantee of refund or outcome

 

We will provide services with reasonable care and skill. However, we do not guarantee any particular tax refund, tax payable amount, processing time, ATO outcome, deduction entitlement, penalty remission, payment plan approval, audit outcome, or government decision. Tax outcomes depend on your circumstances, the law, ATO processing, supporting evidence, and the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

 

39. Limitations of advice

 

Any advice provided is based on the information available at the time and our understanding of your circumstances.

Taxation law can be complex and subject to interpretation, change, and ATO review. Advice is an opinion based on the information provided and should not be treated as a guarantee of how the ATO, a court, tribunal, or other authority may decide a matter.

 

40. Conflicts of interest

 

You must notify us if you are aware of any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest.

This may include disputes between spouses, business partners, directors, shareholders, trustees, beneficiaries, family members, former accountants, or other parties. If a conflict arises, we may need to stop acting for one or more parties or obtain written consent before continuing.

 

41. Previous accountant

 

Where appropriate, we may contact your previous accountant or tax agent to request information, prior year records, outstanding matters, or professional clearance. You may refuse permission, but this may affect our ability to complete work efficiently or accurately.

 

42. Quality review and supervision

 

Your file may be reviewed for supervision, compliance, quality control, professional standards, insurance, training, or internal review purposes. By engaging us, you consent to your file being reviewed by authorised persons where reasonably required for professional, supervisory, or compliance purposes.

 

43. Trust money and fee from refund

 

Unless specifically agreed in writing, we do not offer fee-from-refund arrangements. If we receive money on your behalf, we will account for it separately from fees received for services already rendered, subject to applicable legal and professional obligations.

 

44. Termination

 

Either party may terminate the engagement by written notice.

We may stop acting for you if:

  • You do not provide requested information
  • You do not pay invoices when due
  • You provide false, misleading, or incomplete information
  • You ask us to act unlawfully or improperly
  • A conflict of interest arises
  • Continuing would breach professional obligations
  • Communication becomes unreasonable, abusive, or inappropriate
  • We are unable to verify your identity
  • The work is outside our scope or competence
  • We are otherwise unable to continue acting

 

If the engagement is terminated, you remain responsible for fees incurred for work completed up to the termination date.

 

45. Limitation of liability

 

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for loss, damage, penalties, interest, additional tax, denied deductions, amended assessments, missed deadlines, lost profits, business interruption, or other consequences caused by:

  • Incorrect, incomplete, late, or misleading information provided by you
  • Failure to provide requested documents
  • Failure to keep adequate records
  • Failure to review documents before approval
  • Third-party software or system issues
  • ATO or government processing delays
  • Actions of banks, employers, payroll providers, bookkeepers, software providers, or other third parties
  • Events outside our reasonable control

 

Nothing in these Terms excludes rights or guarantees that cannot lawfully be excluded. Where applicable, liability may be limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

 

46. Intellectual property

 

All website content, templates, checklists, guides, forms, wording, documents, internal processes, workpapers, and other materials created by us remain our intellectual property unless otherwise agreed in writing. You may use documents prepared specifically for you for their intended purpose. You must not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or reuse our website content, templates, forms, guides, or internal documents without written permission.

 

47. External links

This website may contain links to external websites, including government websites, booking tools, payment providers, software platforms, client portals, or third-party resources. External links are provided for convenience only. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, security, privacy practices, or availability of external websites.

 

48. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The updated version will apply from the date it is published on this website. If you continue using the website or our services after the Terms are updated, you accept the updated Terms.

 

49. Governing law

 

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Western Australia and the applicable laws of Australia. Any disputes will be dealt with in the courts and tribunals of Western Australia, unless another jurisdiction is required by law.

 

50. Contact

 

If you have questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact:

Gold Standard Tax & Accounting
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.goldstandardaccounting.com.au
ABN: 81 242 982 671