How a firm makes the list.
Every list starts with the firms that show up when locals search, plus registers and professional body directories. Most are cut. These are the steps a firm has to clear.
- 01
Registration on the TPB register
The Tax Practitioners Board keeps the public register of tax and BAS agents. We look up each firm, or the agent who signs its returns, and confirm the registration is current.
- 02
Professional body membership
A principal must belong to Chartered Accountants ANZ, CPA Australia or the Institute of Public Accountants, which set education and conduct standards for members.
- 03
Google reviews
The firm’s own local listing needs a 4.5 rating or better from at least 20 reviews. We pull ratings from Google every month and show the date they were last updated.
- 04
A real local office
The firm must work from an office in the city it is listed for. Virtual addresses and suburb landing pages don’t count.
- 05
Fit for the list
Our tax, small business and SMSF lists only include firms whose own websites show they do that work. That’s why a list can have firms the general list doesn’t.
- 06
Written, then checked again
We write each listing from the firm’s website and public records, then a second review checks every fact before the page goes live.
How the order is set
No firm pays for its place. We order each list ourselves, weighing review strength, how closely the firm’s services match the list, and how established it is locally. If paid placements are ever introduced, those firms will be marked “Featured” and each page will explain it.
Keeping lists current
Ratings refresh monthly. Each city page shows when its listings were last reviewed, and a firm that no longer meets the checks is reviewed at the next update. If you spot something out of date, tell us.