AAT has called for mandatory membership of a recognised professional body for anyone providing paid-for tax or accountancy services.
Some 59% of those who have used a tax adviser or accountant were unaware anyone can offer paid-for tax advice without being qualified, yet 63% thought they should have formal qualifications.
Adam Harper director of professional standards & policy, AAT, said: “Unregulated accountants make up a third of the accountancy sector, yet two-thirds of agent-related complaints to HMRC are about unregulated advisers. Mandatory membership of a recognised professional body for anyone providing paid-for tax and accountancy services would address this by providing reassurance to clients that they will have protection if anything goes wrong and that their accountant’s technical knowledge is up to date.”
