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23/11/2006 Bookkeeper Advisory Group Overview   What is the Bookkeeper Advisory Group (BAG) and what is it's purpose? If you have ever asked yourself this question, this article will provide the answer.     History   The Bookkeeper Advisory Group was formerly known as the Bookkeeper Industry Advisory Group. Following the Bookkeeper Symposium in November 2003, the Bookkeeper Industry Advisory Group was formed in May 2004 to allow consultation between the Tax Office and a representative group of bookkeepers on bookkeeper industry issues and the relationship with the Tax Office. The aim of the advisory group was to provide a mutually productive environment for consultation and feedback.   The re-named Bookkeeper Advisory Group focuses on providing input to shape the design and build of administrative interactions between bookkeepers and the Tax Office. The emphasis is on the development of products and services for bookkeepers. The advisory group is predominantly future focused. The Bookkeeper Advisory Group is made up of representatives from the Tax Office, bookkeeper organisations and networks, and independent bookkeepers.   The group meets quarterly, with meeting schedules to be posted on ATO website early in 2007.     Purpose of the Bookkeeper Advisory Group   The Bookkeeper Advisory Group will: operate as a consultative forum to facilitate the development of Tax Office products and services for bookkeepers provide an opportunity to identify, discuss and jointly resolve significant administration issues, including potential problems and solutions, with a focus on bookkeeper interaction recognise the important three way relationship between bookkeepers, tax agents and their often mutual clients exchange information about potential future issues and events relating to the administration of services for bookkeepers and their clients provide a forum for rapid exchange of views relating to bookkeeper relationship issues, Tax Office products and services provide a quick and simple market testing forum for developing ideas, and provide reports to the ATO Tax Practitioner Forum. Membership listing for the Bookkeeper Advisory Group   The Bookkeeper Advisory Group is chaired by Assistant Commissioner Murray Crowe.   Secretariat services are provided by the Professional Associations Liaison Unit (PALU). For further information about the Bookkeeper Advisory Group please email PALU. Murray Crowe (chair) Tax Office – Assistant Commissioner, Tax Practitioner Relations, Tax Practitioner and Lodgment Strategy (TPALS) Susan Abouav Bookkeeper Matthew Addison Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Maria Benardis Australian Association of Professional Bookkeepers Roger Booker Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Kathie Collins Bookkeeper Susy Coslovich Franchised Bookkeepers Association Australia Robert Duncan Association of Certified Bookkeepers/Association of Taxation and Management Accountants Rick Freitag Bookkeeper/Software Products Kathryn Heaven Bookkeeper Sue Hirst Taxation Institute of Australia Robert Hutt Association of Accounting Technicians Maria Jowett Bookkeeper Winnie Kwok Institute of Chartered Accountants Peter McGinty National Tax and Accountants Association Maguy Nakhl Certified Practising Accountants of Australia Gavan Ord National Institute of Accountants Russell Smith Bookkeeper Peter Thorp or Darren Hagarty Australian Bookkeepers Network Karen Anstis Tax Office – Tax Practitioner Relations, TPALS Geoff Besgrove Tax Office – ATO Relations Paula Crowe Tax Office – Client Account Services Greg Lansdell Tax Office – BAS Service Provider Project, TPALS John Leonard Tax Office – Micro Enterprises and Individuals Gary Scanlan Tax Office – Operations Pam Shaw Tax Office – Tax Practitioner Relations, TPALS Paul Tregillis Tax Office – GST Cameron Meizer (secretary) Tax Office – Tax Practitioner Relations, TPALS Bookkeeping organisations represented on the BAG Association of Accounting Technicians Association of Certified Bookkeepers Australian Association of Professional Bookkeepers Australian Bookkeepers Network Franchised Bookkeepers Association Australia Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Note: Inviting the above bookkeeping organisations to participate in this forum, in no way implies that they are accredited or endorsed by the Tax Office. Currently, the Tax Office has not recognised any of the above bookkeeping organisations as meeting the requirements of section 251LA Recognised Professionals Associations of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA36).   The following organisations currently meet the requirements to be a recognised professional association for the purposes of section 251LA of the ITAA 1936: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Association of Taxation and Management Accountants Chartered Institute of Management Accountants CPA Australia Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia National Institute of Accountants Taxation Institute of Australia   Source:  Australian Tax Office http://www.ato.gov.au/ © Commonwealth of Australia Last Modified: Wednesday, 22 November 2006