<strong>Period of Effect:</strong> 20/04/2023 to 20/10/2023<br/><strong>Reason:</strong> 30-20(1)(a) - Education Order[POPUP_FOR_DETAILS]<br/><strong>Code breach(es):</strong> <ul><li>30-10(1) - You must act honestly and with integrity</li><li>30-10(2) - You must comply with the taxation laws in the conduct of your personal affairs</li><li>30-10(13) - You must maintain professional indemnity insurance that meets the Board's requirements</li><li>30-10(14) - You must respond to requests and directions from the Board in a timely, responsible and reasonable manner</li></ul><br/><strong>Explanation:</strong> On 2 March 2023, after completing an investigation, the Tax Practitioners Board (the TPB) determined that Mr Steven Fornasaro had breached subsections 30-10(1), 30-10(2), 30 10(13) and 30-10(14) of the Code of Professional Conduct (the Code) in the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA).<br>The TPB found Mr Fornasaro breached the Code:<br>1. By failing to act honestly and with integrity by making a false statement in his application for renewal of registration lodged with the TPB in May 2021, by answering “No” to the question “Do you or any of your associated entities that you have direct, or indirect control over, have overdue tax obligations?” when in fact as at that date Mr Fornasaro had a Pay As You Go Withholding (PAYGW) Director Penalty Account debt which was not subject to an agreed payment arrangement with the ATO.<br>2. In that he did not comply with the taxation laws in the conduct of his personal affairs by:<br>a. In his capacity as a director, failing to lodge two related entity’s income tax returns for the period ending 30 June 2021 by their due dates.<br>b. In his capacity as an individual, failing to pay his PAYGW Director Penalty account debt since the TPB’s Order on 29 March 2021, which as at 15 December 2022 was overdue but now extinguished.<br>3. By previously failing to maintain professional indemnity insurance.<br>4. By not responding to the request from the TPB in a timely, responsible and reasonable manner by failing to comply with a prior Order from the TPB.<br><br>The Board decided to impose an Order under section 30-20 of the TASA, requiring Mr Fornasaro to:<br>a. complete and pass a course in relation to the TASA and provide evidence of successful completion to the TPB.<br>b. complete and pass the Public Practice Program offered by Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and provide evidence of successful completion to the TPB.<br>c. provide written evidence to the TPB of enrolment in each course.<br><br>