As a tax professional – do you know how to recognise the signs of the tax system being used for financial abuse? Experts in this area believe tax professionals are uniquely poised to recognise people experiencing intimate partner financial abuse, with the annual tax return providing a regular contact point. Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar, the Founding Director of the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic, and Jasmine Opdam, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at Redfern Legal Centre’s Financial Abuse Service NSW join Gillian Bowen to explain financial abuse, how the tax system is abused by perpetrators and how tax professionals can start to recognise the signs.

Resources referred to in the episode:

• CA ANZ Article: ‘Financial abuse in the tax system – recognise the signs’
• Register for the Sharing Knowledge session ‘Recognising the signs of client financial abuse’
• CA ANZ submission to Australian parliamentary inquiry: Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse
• Contact the CA ANZ Professional Standards Team for practical guidance on the ethics and rules related to a professional issues such as financial abuse
• CA ANZ Smaller Practices Centre
• Contact the UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic to get involved

For anyone personally experiencing financial abuse support is available:

In Australia refer to Yourtoolkit.com

In New Zealand refer to Good Shepherd

All CA ANZ members can access free EAP support

Financial counselling and pro bono tax services:  

• National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 
• Small Business Debt Helpline (national): 1800 413 828 
• National Tax Clinic Program (for tax clinics in each state) 

Financial abuse specialist legal and non-legal support:  

• Financial Abuse Service NSW at Redfern Legal Centre (New South Wales): 0481 730 344 

Family and domestic violence support services:  

• 1800 RESPECT (24-hour national helpline): 1800 737 732  
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491  
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114  
• Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277  

Additional workplace resources:

UN Women resource (AU): Domestic and Family Violence is a Workplace Issue - The Facts

UN Women resource (AU): Workplace Action on Domestic and Family Violence – Tools and Resources

UN Women resource (AU): A Framework for Workplace Action on Domestic and Family Violence

Employment NZ resource (NZ): Rights for Employees Affected by Domestic Violence

Employment NZ resource (NZ): Managing Family Violence Leave