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Tax accountant/ tax lawyer (1 Viewer)
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velox
Retired
One is a registered Legal practioner, the other is just an accountant. My mate is a tax lawyer.mismatch said:
seremify007
Junior Member
I'm inclined to think one works on the side of understanding the law, whilst the other is just the person who actually does the tax schemes/returns and relies on advice given by the lawyer.
I'd imagine a cadet would be more on the accountant side of things, whereas the lawyer would be the ones who give advice when you need ask a Q.
Btw which firm are you at may I ask? EY?
I'd imagine a cadet would be more on the accountant side of things, whereas the lawyer would be the ones who give advice when you need ask a Q.
Btw which firm are you at may I ask? EY?
turtleface
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In an accounting firm, tax accountants are the client service staff and the revenue drivers. The Tax lawyers perform a role similar to inhouse counsel, except they work with staff much more closely.
In other words, Tax lawyers are basically advisors to tax accountants
Tax accountants doing returns work usually need to be registered as a Tax agent.
In other words, Tax lawyers are basically advisors to tax accountants
Not necessarily, many "lawyers" are not admitted as solicitors or barristers, just like many "accountants" aren't CA/CPA etc. and many "auditors" are not registered with ASIC.
Tax accountants doing returns work usually need to be registered as a Tax agent.
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Do we consider a tax accountant to be a tax consultant? At an accounting firm we are called tax consultants. Now this may seem trivial but is there a difference between them?seremify007 said:
I consider them the same. And in that scenario from experience I feel the distinction between a tax accountant/consultant and a tax lawyer is just a technical one.
Working in tax, those around and myself are the ones writing up the tax advice, not the lawyers. If anything they rely on what the consultants say.
However the distinction is in the writing of the advice letter. I am not entirely clear on this but I believe that a solicitor is the only person who can sign the bottom of a letter which 'tells' a client what to do. However if the letter is just advice, offering several possibilies (which is often what is done) then legally the tax accountant (being a partner) can sign off the document.
Now this is all based on what I have been told and my general understanding.
But yes of course I doubt the tax lawyer would be doing tax returns or working the numbers very much. Their work would be entirely advice in relation to following the tax legislation.
seremify007
Junior Member
Well to be honest, I don't know. I'd consider "Consultant" to be in the same league as "Accountant" because that's what we call our accountants in our firm. I'd imagine that the Tax Lawyers would be similar to the people we call if we have questions on technicalities, liability issues, risk, etc...
As mentioned already, one is more like a counsel/advisor... the other is the one who actually does the work.
As mentioned already, one is more like a counsel/advisor... the other is the one who actually does the work.