Small Firm, Big Impact Host Gillian Bowen catches up* with Ruth Owen, the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman, about crucial updates and insights that Chartered Accountants need to know. Hear about recent focus areas for the Tax Ombudsman, including ATO service standards and ATO letters. Ruth also shares valuable information on the role of the Tax Ombudsman, elimination of the backlog for the complaints line and how you can effectively address and escalate client issues. This discussion gives a useful update on the evolving landscape of tax administration and how the Tax Ombudsman can also assist with Tax Practitioner Board matters. 

Resources referred to in this episode: 
Tax Ombudsman website 
Tax Ombudsman’s work plan 
Tax Ombudsman’s systemic review of the effectiveness of the ATO’s registered agent phone line 
Poll on the ATO’s registered agent phone line 
Tax Ombudsman’s review of ATO letters and written communications 
Escalate complaints about the ATO with the Tax Ombudsman via its website or telephone on 1300 44 88 29 (1300 IGT TAX) 

*This episode was recorded on 2 April 2025.

<a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/news-and-analysis/news/podcasts/small-firm-big-impact">Small Firm, Big Impact</a> Host&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianbowen/">Gillian Bowen</a> catches up* with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-owen-cbe-gaicd-b4b1291/">Ruth Owen</a>, the <a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/">Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman</a>, about crucial updates and insights that Chartered Accountants need to know. Hear about recent focus areas for the Tax Ombudsman, including ATO service standards and ATO letters. Ruth also shares valuable information on the role of the Tax Ombudsman, elimination of the backlog for the complaints line and how you can effectively address and escalate client issues. This discussion gives a useful update on the evolving landscape of tax administration and how the Tax Ombudsman can also assist with Tax Practitioner Board matters.&nbsp;
Resources referred to in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/">Tax Ombudsman</a> website&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/forward-workplan-for-systemic-reviews-2024-25/">Tax Ombudsman&rsquo;s work plan</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/current-investigation-reports/systemic-review-of-the-effectiveness-of-the-atos-registered-agent-phone-line/">Tax Ombudsman&rsquo;s systemic review of the effectiveness of the ATO&rsquo;s registered agent phone line</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=IlwxrA1zc0WrcRbBk-0Nz6Cg5qqGTnFOmHcx5NZBZAlUMVU0QVZUR0UxMEhVWThOVDFQRjMzRTc5Vi4u">Poll on the ATO&rsquo;s registered agent phone line</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/current-investigation-reports/review-of-ato-letters-and-written-communications/">Tax Ombudsman&rsquo;s review of ATO letters and written communications</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Escalate complaints about the ATO with the Tax Ombudsman via its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.igt.gov.au/lodge-a-complaint/">website</a> or telephone on <a href="tel:1300448829">1300 44 88 29</a> (<a href="tel:1300448829">1300 IGT TAX</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
*This episode was recorded on 2 April 2025.
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>
<ul></ul>

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The latest series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager Gillian Bowen will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice.

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The latest series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-bowen-7b310215b/" aria-label="Link Gillian Bowen">Gillian Bowen</a> will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice.

Giving Chartered Accountants, the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs.

Small Firm, Big Impact

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager Gillian Bowen will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice. Find out more about CA ANZ here. Disclaimer: The opinions and statements expressed in this podcast are provided for general information only are not intended to be legal, professional or financial advice, nor do they reflect the opinions of Chartered Accountants ANZ. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chartered Accountants ANZ is not liable for any statement or opinion, or for any error or omission in this podcast, nor is it liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential losses or damages of any kind, or loss of profit, loss or corruption of data, business interruption or indirect costs, arising out of or in connection with this podcast or the information contained in it, whether such loss or damage arises in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, or otherwise.

‘Small Firm, Big Impact’ is the podcast small and medium sized practices need right now. The series is full of factual and practical content from experts, giving chartered accountants the up-to-date information they need to do their jobs. Each episode Chartered Accountants ANZ Public Affairs Manager <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-bowen-7b310215b/">Gillian Bowen</a> will pick the brains of a range of people across the profession including CA ANZ experts as well as guests who know a thing or two about public practice. Find out more about CA ANZ <a href="https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/">here</a>. Disclaimer: The opinions and statements expressed in this podcast are provided for general information only are not intended to be legal, professional or financial advice, nor do they reflect the opinions of Chartered Accountants ANZ. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Chartered Accountants ANZ is not liable for any statement or opinion, or for any error or omission in this podcast, nor is it liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential losses or damages of any kind, or loss of profit, loss or corruption of data, business interruption or indirect costs, arising out of or in connection with this podcast or the information contained in it, whether such loss or damage arises in contract, negligence, tort, under statute, or otherwise.

Tax System Challenges: Insights from the Tax Ombudsman

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/a34d9ae1-e217-41ad-8f3d-aae30005ee78/clips/6349ce8a-097a-4777-82be-b2b8000d23ad/transcript

Advertisement