There's a frustrating inefficiency that a lot of small business owners just accept: their bookkeeper manages the books, but someone else does the tax return. That means two sets of data, two relationships, and — more often than people realise — two parties who don't quite know what the other has done.
We've thought about this for a while. As a registered BAS agent with 13 years of client financial data, we're already across the numbers that matter most for your tax return. Adding tax compliance to the service felt like the natural step — so we've taken it.
From April 2025, ALC Bookkeeping handles tax returns. Here's what's included, who it's for, and how it works.
What's included
We've structured the tax service around the clients we already work with — Melbourne small businesses, sole traders, and individuals who want their finances handled by someone who already knows their numbers.
- Individual income tax returns — salary and wage earners, investment income, rental properties, deductions
- Sole trader income and deductions — business income through a personal ABN, home office claims, vehicle use, equipment
- Business tax returns — companies, trusts, and partnerships
- GST registration and advice — registering for GST, understanding thresholds and obligations
- ATO correspondence on your behalf — we deal with the ATO so you don't have to
- Tax record-keeping support — setting up the systems that make next year's return straightforward
"We're already across your numbers. Adding tax compliance to the picture means no handoffs, no gaps, and no explaining your business twice."
How the supervision works
Tax agent services operate under a different regulatory framework than BAS services. Our tax returns are completed under the supervision of The Accounting Academy — a qualified tax agent practice. This arrangement is standard in the industry and ensures every return is prepared to the professional standards required under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009.
For you, this means the work is backed by full professional oversight. If anything is queried by the ATO, we handle it. The same accountability that applies to our BAS service applies here.
About The Accounting Academy
The Accounting Academy provides qualified tax agent supervision for tax return preparation and compliance services. All returns lodged through ALC Bookkeeping are completed under this supervised arrangement, meeting TPB registration requirements.
Why having one provider for bookkeeping and tax makes sense
The practical argument is simple: your bookkeeper already has everything needed for your tax return.
When your books and your tax are handled by different people, there's always a handoff point. Data gets exported, imported, re-checked, and queried. It takes time, and things fall through the cracks — deductions get missed, timing differences cause confusion, and you end up explaining your business twice.
When we handle both, the process runs differently. Your books are already reconciled. Your BAS data matches your P&L. Your super is lodged and verified. We prepare your return from the same data set we've been managing all year.
It's not just more convenient. It's more accurate.
Who should reach out
If you're already a client — this is available to you now. Get in touch and we'll fold the tax return into your existing arrangement.
If you're not a client yet but you're looking for a Melbourne bookkeeper who can also handle your tax compliance in one place, a free 15-minute call is the fastest way to find out whether we're the right fit.
We're particularly well-suited to sole traders and small businesses who want the numbers sorted by someone who knows their industry, is across their obligations, and picks up when they call.
