Press release: Extend our high standards to all, says new ATT President

Tracy Easman takes office at today’s Annual General Meeting of the ATT. The ATT’s leadership team for the next 12 months will be:

• President – Tracy Easman
• Deputy President – Jeremy Coker
• Vice President – Richard Todd

Tracy Easman joined the ATT’s governing Council in 2011 and is a former chair of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) / Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) Joint Professional Standards Committee.

Commenting on her new role, Tracy Easman said:

“A subject always close to my heart is professional standards. I will push for the high standards our members must meet to be extended to all of those who work in tax.

“It is to be hoped that the Professional Conduct in Relation to Taxation (PCRT) which the ATT worked on with six other leading UK tax and accountancy bodies, is seen as guiding the principles and standards of behaviour of not only our members and students but all tax professionals. It makes it clear to any of the small minority of tax professionals who are tempted to facilitate and promote tax avoidance schemes that this behaviour is not acceptable.”

PCRT sets out the principles and standards of behaviour that all ATT members and students must follow in their tax work. The latest version came into effect in March 2017. The Government has supported the professional bodies in updating PCRT, with HMRC acknowledging that the guidance sets out an acceptable basis for dealings between members of the bodies and HMRC.

The ATT is committed to high standards of tax practice. The ATT and the CIOT’s Professional Rules and Practice Guidelines (PRPG) set out the fundamental principles and guidance with which their respective members must comply and helps members handle challenges encountered in their professional work. This is reviewed and updated on a regular basis to take account of changes in professional practices and member feedback.

Tracy Easman said:

“The next 12 months will see even more changes for us all with Making Tax Digital and Brexit. They will both bring their own idiosyncrasies to our lives in tax and it is vital that we embrace the changes as tax professionals. In turn, I do ask the Government to be brave and consider the need to ease the understanding and use of our tax system. Changes which create more complication to our already far too complicated tax regime will not add anything for HMRC, the taxpaying public or those of us in the agent community.

“Engagement with our colleagues will be more important than ever in the next 12 months, whether it be with our fellow professional bodies, Ministers, HMRC and the Treasury. I hope we can work together to ensure our tax system is more manageable for us all, that we all continue to work within the high standards our professional bodies set for us and extend these standards to all who advise and help the public with their tax affairs.”

Tracy is a former Secretary of the ATT/CIOT Sussex Branch. She was Chair of the branch from 2013 - 2015. She became a member of the ATT in 1993 and was appointed a Fellow in 2012. She qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2000. Tracy started her career with the Inland Revenue and has worked for two tax consultancy firms. She now runs her own practice in West Sussex.

Notes for editors

1. The PCRT is written by ATT and CIOT and five other leading UK tax and accountancy bodies. It sets out the ‘Fundamental Principles and Standards for Tax Planning’ and is supported by accompanying application guidance. PCRT supports the key role members play in helping clients and businesses comply with their tax obligations and their broader responsibilities to society. It applies to all members in practice and in business and also to members dealing with the tax affairs of themselves, or others such as family, friends, charities etc whether or not for payment. If a member fails to comply with PCRT they may be liable to be subject to disciplinary action.
   
    
2. Jeremy Coker joined Council in 2008. He chairs Education Steering Group and serves on Finance Steering Group. Jeremy is a former Chair of the London Branch. He became a member of the Association in 2008 and was appointed a Fellow in 2017. He qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2000 and also holds the ACA qualification. Jeremy works in practice with a City firm of chartered accountants.
   
   
   
   Richard Todd joined ATT Council in 2013. He is vice Chair of Professional Standards Committee and is a former Chair of Northern Ireland Branch. Richard became a member of the Association in 1996 and qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 1998. He began his tax career with the Inland Revenue in London and Central Scotland, before returning to Northern Ireland in 1998. He presently works in practice in Belfast.