R&D Tax Incentive – Proof of Identity

Maximise your R&D claim – book a meeting

Overview

New rules mean we must verify your identity and authority to act for your company before processing your R&D Tax Incentive claim. It’s a quick step to meet TPB guidelines and prevent fraud.

Why We’re Now Asking for Proof of Identity

If you’re claiming the R&D Tax Incentive, you might have noticed us asking for something new—proof of identity and confirmation that you’re authorised to act for your company.

No, we haven’t suddenly become paranoid. The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) has introduced new rules, and now all tax advisors (including us) have to verify their clients’ identities. It’s part of a broader push to stop fraud and identity theft.

If you’re an existing client, you might be wondering why this is happening now. If you’re new to the R&D Tax Incentive, you’re probably thinking, “Great, more admin. What do I actually need to do?”

Here’s the short version:

Why this rule exists – The legal stuff behind it and what the ATO/TPB require
What we need from you – The exact documents to send us
How to provide them – The easiest way to get it sorted without headaches

It’s one small step for compliance, one giant leap for making sure we all stay on the right side of the ATO. Let’s get into it.

Why Is This Rule in Place?

In short—because fraud exists. The ATO and TPB have seen cases where dodgy operators impersonate businesses, lodge dodgy tax claims, and disappear with the cash. To stop this, they’ve introduced stricter proof of identity requirements for tax practitioners.

From now on, before we can act on your behalf for the R&D Tax Incentive, we need to:

Confirm you are who you say you are
Verify you actually have authority to act for your company

This isn’t just a guideline—it’s a formal requirement under the TPB’s Code of Professional Conduct. Failing to follow these rules could mean fines, suspension, or even deregistration for tax advisors. So, unfortunately, “trust me, mate” isn’t going to cut it anymore.

Need to verify your identity for your R&D claim?

Call Bulletpoint on1300 658 508 to get it sorted quickly and stay compliant.

What’s the Legislation Behind This?

This requirement isn’t just something we’ve made up to make your life harder—it comes straight from the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) guidelines and the ATO’s client verification rules.

The key references:

TPB Practice Note TPB(PN) 5/2022 – This outlines the proof of identity (POI) requirements for tax practitioners
Tax Agent Services Act 2009 – This governs how registered tax agents (like us) must operate, including compliance with identity verification rules
ATO’s Client Verification Process – This aligns with the TPB’s requirements to prevent fraud and unauthorised claims

In short, we need to follow these rules to stay compliant and ensure your claim isn’t flagged down the track. If you want the full details, you can check out the TPB website or the ATO’s latest guidance on client verification. But if you’d rather skip the legal deep dive, just send us your ID, and we’ll handle the rest.

What Do You Need to Provide?

Luckily, this isn’t a 100-point ID check like you’re opening a new bank account. But we do need a couple of key documents to tick the compliance boxes.

If you’re an individual (sole trader or company director), we need:

A photo ID – A driver’s licence or passport
Proof you act for the company– This could be an ASIC extract showing you as a director

If you’re acting on behalf of someone else (like a CFO or consultant), we need:

Your own photo ID – Same as above, a driver’s licence or passport
Proof you’re authorised to act – A signed letter from a director or a formal engagement document

That’s it. No DNA samples, no first-born children—just a couple of documents to confirm who you are and that you’re actually allowed to be making decisions for the company.

Next up, the easiest way to get these to us.

What If You’re Not a Director? Can You Still Submit an R&D Claim?

Yes, you can—but we’ll need extra proof that you’re authorised to act on behalf of the company.

If you’re not listed as a director on ASIC records, we’ll need:

Your proof of identity – A driver’s licence or passport
Evidence that you’re authorised to act – This could be:
- A letter from a director confirming you have authority to manage the R&D claim
- A formal engagement agreement between your company and Bulletpoint
- Other legal documentation showing you have the right to act

Essentially, we just need something official that shows you have permission to handle the claim. If you’re unsure what to provide, let us know and we’ll guide you through it.

As long as we can verify your identity and confirm you have the green light from the company, we can move forward.

Not sure what documents you need for identity verification?

Message Bulletpoint to get a checklist and submit them hassle-free.

How to Send Us Your Documents

We’ve kept this as painless as possible. No need to print, scan, or fax anything like it’s 1999. Just take a clear photo or PDF scan of your documents and send them over.

The easiest ways to get them to us:

Email – Just attach the files and send them to us
Secure upload – If you’d prefer a more secure option, we can send you a secure link to upload them directly
Share via cloud storage – If you’ve already got them on Google Drive or Dropbox, just send us the link

We’re not looking for perfection here—just make sure the text is readable and the whole document is visible. If we can’t see your name or the document is blurry, we’ll have to ask you to redo it, which nobody wants.

Once we’ve got your documents, we’ll confirm everything’s in order and get back to the business of maximising your R&D claim. Simple as that.

Final Thoughts – A Small Step for Compliance, a Big Step for R&D Claims

We get it—nobody loves extra paperwork. But this is a quick and easy step to keep things running smoothly and stay compliant with the latest tax rules.

By providing your proof of identity upfront, we can:

Process your R&D claim faster – No last-minute delays when lodging
Stay compliant with TPB regulations – Keeping us (and you) on the right side of the law
Protect against fraud – Making sure no dodgy operators are trying to claim in your name

If you have any questions or need help figuring out what documents to send, just reach out. Otherwise, get your ID over to us, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Now, back to the important stuff—getting you the biggest R&D refund possible.