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Tax agent: what a builder gets from a registered one

A registered tax agent lodges tax returns and BAS and gives tax advice. Builders get extended lodgement dates and, ideally, someone who understands job costing.

By Chalkline. Last updated 25 May 2026. Verified 25 May 2026.

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A tax agent is a professional registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to prepare and lodge tax returns, BAS, and PAYG instalment statements, and to give tax advice, for a fee. For a builder, the tax agent is the accountant who does the annual return and the tax planning, and engaging a registered one brings two concrete benefits: extended lodgement deadlines and, if you choose well, someone who actually understands construction money.

What a tax agent can do (and the BAS agent line)

Under the Tax Agent Services Act, only a registered agent can charge for tax-agent services. The scope splits:

  • Tax agent (full scope): income tax returns, BAS, PAYG, capital gains, tax advice, and representing you to the ATO.
  • BAS agent (narrower): BAS, GST, PAYG withholding, and super-related work, but not income tax returns or general tax advice.

So a bookkeeper who is a registered BAS agent can lodge your BAS; only a tax agent can do the income tax return and the planning around it. Many builders use both: a BAS agent or bookkeeper for the quarterly BAS, a tax agent for the annual return and advice.

The lodgement extension

A practical reason to use a registered tax agent: clients of a tax agent get extended lodgement due dates under the ATO’s tax agent lodgement program, compared with self-lodgement. That extra time is a genuine cashflow and planning benefit, provided you are up to date and the agent lodges through the program.

Why a construction-aware one matters

A builder’s tax is not a standard small-business return. The things a good construction tax agent handles:

  • Job costing and gross margin: separating COGS from overhead so the numbers mean something.
  • Lumpy income and progress claims: timing of revenue recognition and PAYG instalments around stage payments.
  • Retention: money earned but not yet received, and how it is treated.
  • Payroll tax and deemed contractors: the state-tax exposure that catches builders with subbies.
  • BAS and GST timing, and the cost of getting it wrong (the non-deductible general interest charge on late tax).

A generalist accountant can do the return; one who understands building will save you more than the fee difference.

For a builder

  • Check they are registered. Search the TPB register; only a registered tax agent (or BAS agent for BAS work) can charge for the work and give you the lodgement extension.
  • Use the lodgement extension, but stay current. It only helps if your lodgements are up to date; falling behind loses the benefit and racks up GIC.
  • Match the agent to the work. BAS-only? A registered BAS agent or bookkeeper is enough. Annual return and planning? A tax agent.
  • Pick construction literacy. Ask whether they work with builders; job costing, retention, and progress-claim timing are where a building-aware agent earns their fee.

Also known as: registered tax agent, accountant (tax agent).

See also

Last updated: 2026-05-25. Verified: 2026-05-25. Quarterly review for currency.

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