Call to make professional body membership mandatory

Research from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has highlighted that many people do not know that anyone can trade as an accountant or tax adviser without professional or formal qualifications.

The survey of more than 1 000 people who had used an accountant or tax adviser found that almost two-thirds also said that they should be suitably qualified. In addition 64% of people thought accountants and tax advisers have played an essential role advising on the latest financial issues in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.

The AAT is therefore renewing calls for the government to introduce mandatory membership of a recognised professional body for anyone offering paid-for tax or accountancy services.  

Adam Harper director of professional standards and policy at the AAT said: ‘Unregulated accountants make up a third of the accountancy sector yet two-thirds of agent-related complaints to HMRC are about unregulated...