Amidst the Corona Virus outbreak and early lockdown phase, only necessary services were allowed. But now gradually, more services are being added to the essential service slot to confirm the smooth functioning of the economy. The Victorian Premiere is now requested to include accountants and bookkeepers as necessary services post stage-four lockdown restrictions.
All nine professional bodies of the Tax Practitioners Stewardship Group buzzed Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews to permit accountants, bookkeepers, tax practitioners, and other related professionals to commence their work out of home in their offices or at the client’s premises on the proposed stage 4 lockdown in Victoria. These nine bodies include CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia, and New Zealand, the Tax Institute, Institute of Public Accountants, The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, National Tax and Accountants’ Association Ltd, Tax & Super Australia along with the Association of Accounting Technicians.
It was urged as Victoria noticed 428 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, which is also a maximum single-day increase out of the total 429 total everyday cases in entire Australia on 28 March. Victoria Chief health officer has declined to rule out restrictions of stage 4, with the residents compelled to wear a face mask while being on public places.
Accountants and Bookkeepers have been regarded as necessary services as tax time is approaching, and individuals need them for professional advice. Due to COVID-19, taxpayers have a hard time managing their funds and rely on the Tax Return refunds for livelihood and living expenditures. Folks looking for non-business tax advice like in the case of superannuation too are having tough times. Other than the above, business clients, also are running in need of consultancy of tax and account practitioners for filing their tax returns, to draw the advantage of Government stimulus packages along with checking the eligibility for Victorian Business Support Fund Expansion grant.
Businesses would also require the advice of Economic Statement Update on 23 July and the 2020–21 federal budgets in October. It is recommended as well as requested that the Victorian Government to publically recognize the needs of the time and make their statement in support of bookkeepers and accountants. It is further requested to investigate the practical execution under the lockdown 4 stage vigilantly. It is immensely crucial that tax practitioners, bookkeepers, accountants, and other professionals from the accounting realm support businesses and individuals with their essential pieces of advice.