The bill arrived three times the engagement quote. You were charged for work you did not authorise. The work was late, missed a lodgement, or had to be redone elsewhere. The accountant or tax agent insists on payment.
The legal context
Tax agents and BAS agents are registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and must comply with the Code of Professional Conduct in the Tax Agent Services Act 2009. CPAs, CAs and IPAs also have professional body codes (CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants ANZ, IPA). General accounting services supplied to consumers are also subject to the Australian Consumer Law: section 60 (due care and skill), section 61 (fitness for purpose), section 18 (misleading conduct), and the unfair contract terms regime.
Common pushbacks and why they fail
- “Our engagement letter allows scope creep billing.” Open-ended billing terms can be unfair under Part 2-3 of the ACL and may be unenforceable.
- “Time recorded equals fee earned.” Reasonableness and the engagement scope still apply.
- “Late lodgement was your fault.” The agent’s professional duty includes managing deadlines once engaged.
- “You signed the engagement.” Engagement cannot displace the TPB Code or ACL guarantees.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
The Letter of Demand approach
The Letter of Demand identifies the engagement, the disputed fees, the specific failure or breach of the TPB Code, the ACL provisions engaged, and a 14-day deadline. It names the TPB, the relevant professional body, your state Fair Trading body, and the small claims tribunal as the escalation path.
What Claim Done delivers
- Practitioner details, TPB registration, engagement and fees
- The specific overcharge or failure
- Citation of the TPB Code and ACL sections
- Refund or write-down claimed
- 14-day deadline with full escalation path named
- Sent as a PDF for a flat $49
What to expect after
Most practitioners adjust the bill once a formal letter is on file — TPB complaints and professional body referrals are reputationally damaging. If they don’t, escalate to the TPB and the relevant professional body, and file a small claims application in NCAT, VCAT, QCAT or your state’s equivalent.
Send a formal Letter of Demand. Done in about 5 minutes.
No card until the end. No subscription.
What happens when you send a Letter of Demand
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Letter of Demand drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Letter of Demand from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read the draft and approve it before anything is sent; nothing goes out without your approval. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=letter-of-demand. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Letter of Demand cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. Email delivery is free; registered post is $29 extra. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Letter of Demand in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Letter of Demand; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.
What does Claim Done do that a free Letter of Demand template doesn't?
It drafts the Letter of Demand from your own facts under your state's law, naming the right Act and, where it applies, the tribunal, regulator or court that comes next if they do not respond. Nothing is sent until you approve it. Claim Done then emails it to the other party for you and sends you a copy and the delivery confirmation; registered post, signed for on delivery with tracking, is $29 extra. The key dates in the letter are listed on your dashboard.