This month we released a special Tax on the Couch interview with Ruth Owen, Australia's Inspector-General of Taxation and Tax Ombudsman (i.e., the 'Tax Ombudsman'). 

This interview was made available to all NTAA members given its relevance to tax practitioners. 

Ruth discussed her reviews of ATO communication and support systems, including: 

• the completed review into ATO letters; 
• the current review of the Tax Agent Phone Line and Client-to-Agent phone support; and 
• the proposed reviews into Online Services for Agents ('OSFA') and the ATO's approach to remission of GIC. 

These reviews go to the heart of practice life, directly affecting how the ATO communicates with practitioners and their clients. 

NTAA Advocacy 

From an advocacy perspective, NTAA will continue to maintain a strong working relationship with the Tax Ombudsman. 

We regularly collect feedback from NTAA members who are at the coalface of the issues highlighted for review and we ensure the tax practitioner's perspective is put firmly on the table in every consultation. 

Your input plays a key role in shaping these reviews, and we will continue to keep members informed as new Tax Ombudsman recommendations are made and reviews released.