Regulation of the tax profession

This article brings together three related issues addressed in recent issues of Taxation magazine and suggests a possible solution.

The three issues are:

1. Regulation – the way forward – Allison Plager’s report on the Wyman symposium 10 November 2022.

2. More control of marketing of tax services – Andrew Hubbard 24 November 2022.

3. Passing the buck? – Mala Kapacee 1 December 2022.

Mala’s article also references Allison’s report and proposes that rather than more regulation of the profession the term ‘tax adviser’ should be protected. I am not convinced this would provide a solution to the key concerns.

Regulation of the profession is not a new topic of course. Nor is the idea of limiting who can claim to be an adviser. Historically this was most often raised in the context of who can claim to be an ‘accountant’.

The general public...