As a Tax Agent complying with requirements of the Tax Practitioner’s Board (TPB) (applicable from 2022 – refer joint TPB and ATO publication), as well as best practice, Crestani Partners now requires verification of client identities prior to providing tax and BAS services. Proof of identity checks apply on engagement with all new clients AND new authorised representatives thereof.  Identity verification involves confirmation of: 

• Identity of our clients and individuals with authority to instruct on their behalf; and 

• The authority of individuals to instruct us on behalf of a client. 

Verification is not currently required for well-established clients, though is required for all new authorised representatives. 

Identity verification checks reduce the risk of identity theft and fraudulent activity for clients and tax agents alike and are particularly relevant in the field of tax where sensitive personal information is integral to the services provided.  

Identity verification process at Crestani Partners  

In undertaking the required identity verification process our team works directly with all new and existing client contacts to gain appropriate access to relevant authentication in the least intrusive way possible. Privacy of our clients is paramount. We aim to conduct the required activities as efficiently as possible, while ensuring that our client’s personal information is managed carefully. We will not hold physical or digital copies of personal identification documents to best protect our client’s identification documents. We will only physically sign documents in line with our TPB and ATO requirements or use third party digital partners that are ISO certified for digital verification means. 

Crestani Partners has uses a digital identity verification process through the engagement of Annature, a third party service provider. Using digital verification means, you do not need to upload your personal information to us to enable verification, as this is done directly with Annature. Please refer to Annature’s Privacy Policy for information about how Annature will access and manage your information. Also refer to our engagement letter for information on Annature’s Data Security policies.  

Clients are able to undertake proof of identity checks with our office manually (visual sighting of identification documentation) if this is preferred.  We request that you do not provide us with copies of any identification documents, electronically or physically. 

If you have any questions, reach out to our office.