New TPB sanctions powers begin on 1 October 2026
New sanctions powers for the Tax Practitioners Board will begin on 1 October 2026 after the Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Accountability for Tax Adviser Misconduct and Other Measures) Bill 2026 received Royal Assent.
The law expands the board’s compliance and enforcement powers under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009. It covers registered tax practitioners and unregistered entities.
The Tax Practitioners Board published guidance on the changes on 17 September 2026. It said the new framework will help it deal with serious misconduct and non-compliance.
From 1 October 2026, the board will gain new criminal penalties for unregistered entities. It will also gain new civil penalties for breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct by registered tax practitioners.
Unregistered entities that make false or misleading statements will also face new civil penalties. Maximum civil penalty amounts will increase under the reforms.
New penalties and suspension powers
The expanded toolkit includes infringement notices for contraventions or alleged contraventions of certain civil penalty provisions. The board will also be able to accept enforceable undertakings tied to compliance with the Tax Agent Services Act 2009.
Registered tax practitioners who do not meet certain registration requirements may face contingent suspension. The board will also have interim suspension powers when serious and high-risk misconduct needs an immediate response.
The maximum non-application period after termination of registration will rise from 5 years to 10 years. The board also refers to that period as a banning period.
TPB chair Peter de Cure AM said the framework gives the regulator “greater flexibility to take action that reflects the seriousness of the conduct and the level of risk it presents”.
He also said most registered tax practitioners meet their professional and ethical obligations and should not be concerned by the reforms. He said the board’s focus is serious misconduct and higher-risk behaviour.
Peter de Cure said the board will use the added sanctions in a measured, proportionate and risk-based way. He linked that approach to consumer protection and confidence in the tax profession.
The board said it will help tax practitioners and other stakeholders understand the new requirements through guidance, education and engagement activities. The organisation did not give a separate timetable for those activities beyond the 1 October 2026 start date for the new powers.
