Sample engagement letter

Harbourline Bookkeeping Pty Ltd

Registered BAS Agent 26 123 456 · ABN 12 345 678 012 · Member, Institute of Certified Bookkeepers

7 August 2026

Ms Sarah Chen
Director
Chen & Co Consulting Pty Ltd

Re: Terms of engagement for bookkeeping, BAS and payroll services

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for choosing Harbourline Bookkeeping to support your business. This letter sets out the terms of our engagement, the services we will provide, and the information we are required to give you as a registered BAS agent. Please read it, ask us anything that is unclear, and sign where indicated.

1. Services we will provide

The services we will provide are set out below, being bookkeeping and reconciliation, BAS preparation and lodgement, and payroll processing. Any work outside that list will be agreed in writing before it begins.

Where our services include payroll, we will process and submit superannuation guarantee contributions with the aim of them being received by each employee's fund within 7 business days of each payday, or within any longer period the ATO allows, such as up to 20 business days for a new employee's first contribution. This is consistent with the payday super requirements that commenced on 1 July 2026.

The legal obligation to pay superannuation guarantee remains yours as the employer. We are not responsible for delays caused by your bank, a clearing house, your employees' funds, or by payroll information or cleared funds provided to us late.

2. Fees and payment

Our fee is A$850 per month plus GST, reviewed annually and on any change of scope. Invoices are payable within 14 days. Where an invoice remains unpaid beyond our payment terms, we may suspend work until the account is brought up to date.

Information we are required to give you

As a registered BAS agent we must give you the following in writing, and tell you if any of it changes.

The TPB register. The Tax Practitioners Board maintains a public register of registered tax and BAS agents. You can search it at tpb.gov.au/public-register to confirm our registration and its current status.
Making a complaint. If you have a concern about our services you are welcome to raise it with Priya Nair at priya@harbourline.com.au, and we will do our best to sort it out. You do not have to come to us first. You can complain about a BAS agent service directly to the TPB, in writing, using the complaint form at tpb.gov.au/complaints. Further information about the TPB's complaints process is on its website.
Rights, responsibilities and obligations. As a registered BAS agent we have obligations to you and to the TPB under the taxation laws, including the Code of Professional Conduct. You have obligations to us in turn, including giving us complete and accurate records on time. The TPB's factsheet Information for clients sets these out in general terms and is enclosed with this letter.
Prescribed events. None of the prescribed events have occurred in relation to our registration in the last 5 years. Those events are: suspension or termination of registration by the TPB; becoming an undischarged bankrupt or going into external administration; conviction for a serious taxation offence; conviction for an offence involving fraud or dishonesty; serving or being sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Australia of 6 months or more; being penalised, enjoined or subject to an order for breaching a voluntary undertaking in relation to promoting a tax exploitation scheme; and a Federal Court order to pay a pecuniary penalty for contravening a civil penalty provision of the Tax Agent Services Act 2009.
Conditions on our registration. Our registration is not currently subject to any conditions limiting the BAS services we can provide.

3. Your obligations

You agree to provide complete and accurate records, respond to our information requests in reasonable time, and tell us promptly about anything that may affect your obligations…

The full pack runs to five documents: engagement letter, TPB insert, professional clearance letter, onboarding checklist and re-engagement letter. This sample shows the opening of one.