Tax Agent Selection

This survey is designed to be completed by Australian citizens. It seeks your opinion on attributes that you think are important when choosing your income tax preparer.

The survey should only take a couple of minutes and your efforts are most appreciated.

1. How important are the following factors in your decision to choose a tax agent?

	Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Small practice	How important are the following factors in your decision to choose a tax agent? Small practice Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Reputation	Reputation Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Flexibility	Flexibility Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Evening appointments	Evening appointments Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Internet preparation	Internet preparation Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Honesty	Honesty Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Knowledge and application of law	Knowledge and application of law Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Home visits	Home visits Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Local office	Local office Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Fixed fees for the year	Fixed fees for the year Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Quotes are provided	Quotes are provided Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Qualifications	Qualifications Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Price	Price Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Large practice	Large practice Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Size of practice	Size of practice Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Convenient location	Convenient location Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Personal service from principal	Personal service from principal Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low
Speed of service	Speed of service Very high	High	Moderate	Low	Very low

Other (please specify)

2. Do you expect your tax agent to ensure you follow the law even if it means a worse tax position for you?

Do you expect your tax agent to ensure you follow the law even if it means a worse tax position for you? Yes

Depends on ...

3. Do you know the difference between a Chartered Accountant, a CPA and the other professional bodies?

Do you know the difference between a Chartered Accountant, a CPA and the other professional bodies? Yes

Don't really care

4. Which professional would you choose if given the choice?

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
ATMA	Which professional would you choose if given the choice? ATMA 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Chartered Accountant	Chartered Accountant 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
CPA Certified Practising Accountant	CPA Certified Practising Accountant 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Don't care	Don't care 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
NIA	NIA 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th

5. How much do you think is a reasonable price to pay for the preparation and lodgement of a standard individual income tax return? (For Example 2 Income summaries, 1 amount of bank interest, minor deductions for say uniform, stationery, and tax agent fees)

How much do you think is a reasonable price to pay for the preparation and lodgement of a standard individual income tax return? (For Example 2 Income summaries, 1 amount of bank interest, minor deductions for say uniform, stationery, and tax agent fees) <$75	$75	$100	$125	$150	> $200
Other (please specify)

6. Rank the importance to you of the following -

	Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
The tax agent checks my assessment	Rank the importance to you of the following - The tax agent checks my assessment Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
I check my assessment against estimate	I check my assessment against estimate Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
My refund is deposited directly to my account	My refund is deposited directly to my account Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
My refund is in a cheque direct from the Tax Office	My refund is in a cheque direct from the Tax Office Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
Mail from the Tax Office goes to my tax agent first	Mail from the Tax Office goes to my tax agent first Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred
Mail from the Tax Office comes to directly to me	Mail from the Tax Office comes to directly to me Most preferred	Significant	Moderate	Less preferred	Least preferred

Other (please specify)

7. Consider and rank the following options for paying your tax agent for services. (1st is most preferred and 5th is least preferred).

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Cash at time of preparation	Consider and rank the following options for paying your tax agent for services. (1st is most preferred and 5th is least preferred). Cash at time of preparation 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Credit cards	Credit cards 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Direct Credit/Internet	Direct Credit/Internet 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
EFTPOS	EFTPOS 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Fee from refund ($20 premium)	Fee from refund ($20 premium) 1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th

8. Which of the following best describes your situation?

Which of the following best describes your situation? High income, tax wise

High income, tax is a mystery

Moderate income, tax wise

Moderate income, tax is a mystery

Low income, tax wise

Low income, tax is a mystery

9. Please rank your preferences regarding your tax affairs in the choices below -

	That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
Don't push the boundaries too hard	Please rank your preferences regarding your tax affairs in the choices below - Don't push the boundaries too hard That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
Flexibility within the law	Flexibility within the law That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
I love the game and beating the Tax man	I love the game and beating the Tax man That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
If it is an arguable case then go for it	If it is an arguable case then go for it That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
Minimise my tax liability anyway I can	Minimise my tax liability anyway I can That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite
Play safe, I like to sleep well at night	Play safe, I like to sleep well at night That's me	Quite like me	Maybe	Not much like me	That's my opposite

10. If your accountant / tax agent provided the following services how likely is it that you would use them?

	Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Tax planning	If your accountant / tax agent provided the following services how likely is it that you would use them? Tax planning Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Email bulletins	Email bulletins Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Newsletter	Newsletter Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Web site	Web site Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Seminars on tax matters	Seminars on tax matters Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use
Networking meetings	Networking meetings Essential	Useful	Unsure	Unlikely	Would not use

Other (please specify)

1. How do you choose a good tax agent?

1. How important are the following factors in your decision to choose a tax agent?

2. Do you expect your tax agent to ensure you follow the law even if it means a worse tax position for you?

3. Do you know the difference between a Chartered Accountant, a CPA and the other professional bodies?

4. Which professional would you choose if given the choice?

5. How much do you think is a reasonable price to pay for the preparation and lodgement of a standard individual income tax return? (For Example 2 Income summaries, 1 amount of bank interest, minor deductions for say uniform, stationery, and tax agent fees)

6. Rank the importance to you of the following -

7. Consider and rank the following options for paying your tax agent for services. (1st is most preferred and 5th is least preferred).

8. Which of the following best describes your situation?

9. Please rank your preferences regarding your tax affairs in the choices below -

10. If your accountant / tax agent provided the following services how likely is it that you would use them?