Thinking of Switching Accountants? It's Easier Than You Think

Thinking of Switching Accountants? It's Easier Than You Think

Short answer: switching accountants is far simpler than most people expect. You don't lose any of your tax history, you don't have to chase paperwork yourself, and the new agent does the heavy lifting. In most cases all you do is say yes, hand over a few details, and your new accountant takes it from there. Here's exactly how it works, and how the team at MJE in Mortdale makes it painless.

Signs it might be time to switch

You don't need a dramatic reason to change accountants. Often it's just a quiet, nagging feeling that you could be better looked after. The common signs are:

• Poor communication. You email a question and wait days, or weeks, for a reply. You can never get a straight answer, or you only ever speak to a different junior staff member.
• Missed deadlines. Your return or BAS goes in late, you cop ATO interest or penalties, and nobody warned you it was coming.
• No proactive advice. They only ever react. You hear from them once a year at tax time, and never with a suggestion that might actually save you money or stress.
• Price without value. The bill keeps climbing but the service doesn't. You're paying more and getting less, and you're not even sure what you're paying for.

If two or three of these sound familiar, it's worth a conversation. (For help weighing up what good value looks like, see our guide on what a tax agent should cost.)

You won't lose your history

This is the worry we hear most: "If I switch, do I lose all my old records?" The short answer is no.

Your tax history lives with the ATO, not with any one accountant. Your past lodgements, income statements, account balances and prior-year returns stay on your ATO record regardless of who prepares your tax. A new agent can see the relevant history once they're properly authorised.

On top of that, registered tax agents have professional obligations around your records. Under the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) Code of Professional Conduct, an agent must keep proper records of the services they've provided to each client, including former clients. With your written consent, your previous accountant can pass relevant records to your new one. Nothing simply disappears because you moved on.

The switch, step by step

Here's the actual process. Notice how little of it lands on you.

1. Have a quick, no-obligation chat

You talk to us first so we understand your situation, what you need, and what's frustrated you. No commitment, no pressure. This is just to make sure we're the right fit.

2. We send you an engagement letter

When you're happy to go ahead, we set up a formal engagement. This is the document that lets us act for you and sets out what we'll do.

3. We handle the ethical handover

Once you've engaged us, we manage the changeover with your old accountant. With your written consent, we request your prior records and any handover information. This professional courtesy between agents is part of the TPB's expectations under the Code of Professional Conduct, including the requirement to act lawfully and in your best interests and to handle your information confidentially. You don't have to have an awkward conversation with your previous accountant unless you want to.

4. Getting listed with the ATO

For the ATO to recognise us as your agent, we need to be linked to your records. How this happens depends on who you are:

• Most individuals and sole traders: we can generally add you as a client using your details, so the process is quick and largely hands-off for you.
• Companies, trusts, partnerships, SMSFs and most other entities with an ABN: the ATO's "agent nomination" process applies. You log in to ATO Online services for business and nominate us as your agent using our registered agent number. We can't do this step for you, but we walk you through it, and it usually takes a few minutes. The nomination is valid for 28 days, so once you've done it, just let us know and we'll add you straight away.

We'll always tell you upfront which path applies to you, so there are no surprises.

5. You're done

From there, we take over. We pick up where things were left, keep an eye on your deadlines, and you settle into a team that actually knows you.

What to bring

To make the first chat smooth, it helps to have:

• A recent copy of your last tax return or financial statements (if you have them handy)
• Your tax file number or ABN
• Details of your current accountant (name and contact)
• A short note on what's prompted the change and what you'd like done differently

If you can't find something, don't stress. Most of it we can confirm through the proper channels once you're our client.

A real, local team you keep for years

What makes MJE different isn't a slogan, it's the heritage. We've been looking after individuals, families and small businesses in Mortdale and across the St George area since 2000. That's 25 years of knowing the local community, the local businesses, and the people who walk through our door.

When you call us on (02) 9580 1167, you speak to a real person, not a call centre and not a bot. You get the same familiar faces year after year, which is exactly why so many of our clients have stayed with us for the long haul. Whether it's a straightforward individual tax return or you need ongoing business advisory support, you're dealing with a team that remembers your story.

Frequently asked questions

Will my old accountant be told, or be upset? Switching agents is completely normal and your previous accountant deals with it routinely. With your consent, we handle the professional handover quietly. You don't owe anyone an explanation.

Can I switch in the middle of the year, or do I have to wait until tax time? You can switch at any time. There's no need to wait for the end of the financial year. The sooner you're set up, the sooner we can keep an eye on your deadlines.

Do I have to do the ATO paperwork myself? For most individuals, we handle the linking with your details. If you're a company, trust or other entity with an ABN, the ATO requires you to do a short nomination step yourself, but we guide you through it start to finish.

Ready when you are

Changing accountants shouldn't be daunting, and with MJE it isn't. Book a no-obligation chat through our contact page or call us on (02) 9580 1167. We'll explain exactly what switching looks like for your situation, and you can decide from there. No pressure, just a friendly, local team ready to help.

---

This is general information, not personal advice. Tax rules and dates change - please check your situation with us or at ato.gov.au.

Sources

• Tax Practitioners Board, Code of Professional Conduct
• Tax Practitioners Board, Obligation to keep proper client records
• Tax Practitioners Board, Confidentiality of client information (TPB(GS) 26/2014)
• Australian Taxation Office, Agent nomination
• Australian Taxation Office, How to nominate your registered agent
• Australian Taxation Office, Does client-to-agent linking apply to you?