How much is my Annual Subscription Fee?
Why has the fee increased this year?
When are my subscription fees due?
My firm is paying my annual subscription fees but they need a tax invoice. How do I get one?
What payment methods are accepted?
I’ve been billed for a SIG. What is it and can it be removed?
I can’t pay the full fee right now, what are my options?
I’ve relocated to/from overseas. Can my fee be changed?
I didn’t know my fees were due, how was I notified?
I thought my firm was paying my fees. If I pay them now, can the late fee be waived?
What does being excluded mean?
If I am excluded, what are my options to become a member again?
What do I get for my Membership fee?
I don’t want to remain a member, what do I do?
Why is the annual Affiliate fee more than the member fee?
I’m on a concessional subscription fee and usually receive a request to reconfirm. I haven’t received one this year, what do I do?
How do I cancel my Certificate of Public Practice (CPP)?
How do I apply for a concession?
I am not working in accounting anymore, what is the value of the designation and retaining my membership?
I am retiring, do I need to retain my membership?
Can I get a reprinted membership reference card as I have lost mine?
How is the Professional Standards Council (PSC) levy amount determined?
Q: How much is my Annual Subscription Fee?
A: The Annual Subscription fee changes each year. For 2009/10 the fee for Australian based members is $781. For specific details of current subscription fee rates please contact the National Customer Service Centre on 1300 137 322.
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Q: Why has the fee increased this year?
A: The annual subscription fee is reviewed and set by the Institute Board at their May Board meeting each year and usually increases by CPI each year. The revised fees are communicated to members via their annual subscription form in late May or early June.
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Q: When are my subscription fees due?
A: Annual subscription fees are due on 1 July each year in accordance with Institute By-Laws: Section 6: 54 (a). Annual Subscription forms are posted to members and affiliates in late May or early June following the Board meeting that sets fee changes.
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Q: My firm is paying my annual subscription fees but they need a tax invoice. How do I get one?
A: The Annual Subscription form is considered a Tax Invoice as it displays the GST components of each fee. You can print off a tax invoice on Institute letterhead via the Purchase History function in the secure section of our website however this will still appear in your name, not the firm’s. You can access this through logging into your account and selecting ‘My Details’ and reviewing your purchase history from the dropdown menu.
You can contact the Institute’s National Customer Service Centre and request a tax invoice be sent to you via email or hard copy. This will be produced from your account and will still appear in your name, not the firm’s.
An alternative option is to pay your subscription fee online and print off a tax Invoice showing the payment has been made, and seek reimbursement from your firm.
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Q: What payment methods are accepted?
A: Annual Subscription fees can be paid via the following methods:
- In person at an Institute branch (we accept cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card)
- Online using a credit card at www.charteredaccountants.com.au via your secure Institute website login
- By completing the payment section of the annual subscription form with your credit card details, or attaching a cheque, and returning it via post.
- BPAY via the codes on your subscription form
- Via the Institute’s automated payment line 1300 782 707
- By calling the National Customer Service Centre on 1300 137 322 and making a credit card payment over the phone
We accept VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club cards.
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Q: I’ve been billed for a SIG. What is it and can it be removed?
A: A SIG is a Special Interest Group (SIG). It is an optional group that members can subscribe to that focuses on a specific area of the profession. Groups include: Forensic Accounting, Financial Planning and Business Valuation.
As optional groups, membership of these can be cancelled at any time.
To do so on your subscription form, simply put a line through the SIG and indicate ‘unsubscribe’. Reduce the amount payable and pay the remainder.
When paying online, you will have the option to cancel this yourself before proceeding with payment of your fees. You can also contact the National Customer Service Centre and request that the SIG be removed from your account.
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Q: I can’t pay the full fee right now, what are my options?
A: If you contact the Institute before the due date of your subscription fees we can organise a payment plan. Also, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a concessional subscription rate
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Q: I’ve relocated to/from overseas. Can my fee be changed?
A: Yes. Your fee can be reduced to the Overseas Rate if you are based overseas for more than six months of a year, including the point at which fees become due and payable, 1 July.
To apply for the rate, you will need to provide us with an overseas address and employment details (if you are working), which will be added to your record.
You can choose to have your mail sent to this overseas address or to another address within Australia.
When returning from overseas, you should notify us of the changes to your address and your billing rate will return to the Domestic Rate for the following membership year.
Members are required to notify the Institute of any change to your contact details as per Institute By-Laws: Section 4: 30.
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Q: I didn’t know my fees were due, how was I notified?
A: Subscription notices are posted to your preferred mailing address listed on your profile advising that fees need to be paid (by 1 July).
If payment has not been received by 31 July, an email reminder is sent to the email address listed on your profile. The Institute allows another month (to 31 August) for payment before invoicing late fees.
Refer By Law 21(b) regarding exclusion for non-payment of fees.
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Q: I thought my firm was paying my fees. If I pay them now, can the late fee be waived?
A: Payment of your membership fees is your responsibility. You may be in a position where your employer will pay your membership fees however it remains your responsibility to ensure that your fees are paid by August 31.
Late fees can not be waived for this reason.
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Q: What does being excluded mean?
A: Being excluded from membership of the Institute means you are considered to be a past-member of the Institute. As a past-member, you are no longer entitled to vote, nor call yourself a Chartered Accountant or use the CA designation. In addition, you will no longer have access to any of the products or services, member benefits or discounted Training & Development that members are entitled to.
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Q: If I am excluded, what are my options to become a member again?
A: You can be excluded from membership for two reasons: disciplinary action or non-payment of annual subscription fees. If excluded and you would need to apply for readmission to the Institute.
Readmission involves completion of an application form, provision of references, providing evidence of ongoing Training & Development hours and there is an application fee. In addition, if you were excluded for disciplinary reasons, you will need to satisfy the terms of that process.
You can request an application form and further details be emailed to you by contacting the National Customer Service Centre on 1300 137 322.
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Q: What do I get for my Membership fee?
A: The benefits of membership include:
- An on-going free subscription to Charter, the Institute’s magazine which is considered the profession’s ‘flagship’ publication; keeping you up to date with the latest news and trends in the profession.
- GAA Membership; The Institute is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) - an international accounting coalition of the world’s premier accounting bodies. The GAA aims to promote quality professional services, support global membership, share information and collaborate on international accounting issues. The GAA represents over 700,000 of the world’s leading professional accountants. The Institute is the only Australian accounting body within the within the alliance.
- Use of the CA designation, signifies to employers, clients and the public that you are a highly qualified professional, someone who is talented and dedicated enough to undertake years of intense study and rigorous examinations while balancing a challenging career and other commitments. It is a designation that sets you apart from your peers.
- Reduced rates for the Institute’s wide range of Training & Development events and products. The Institute strives to provide detailed, practical training covering a wide range of areas including timely training for current changes and hot topics affecting the accounting profession.
- Member Benefits: the Institute program that gives you access to special offers on quality products and services from premium suppliers. These offers are not available to the general public and will save you time and money - both in a professional and personal capacity.
- The Institute’s government relations, lobbying, and thought leadership initiatives; Working with the Government to ensure they are conscious of issues affecting business, particularly small and medium enterprises, contributing to public policy development and influencing the legislative and regulatory environment so that the accountancy profession can make a strong contribution in Australian business, in the public sector, and to the national economy.
- Marketing and advertising initiatives to raise the profile of the Chartered Accountancy profession and promote the CA designation to employers, potential clients and the general public.
- Developing the future of the profession through effective Careers Marketing, drawing top quality graduates into the Chartered Accountancy field.
- Ongoing development and enhancement of the Chartered Accountants Program, ensuring the high educational standards, that are a mark of the CA designation, are maintained.
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Q: I don’t want to remain a member, what do I do?
A: You need to advise the Institute in writing that you wish to resign your membership.
As readmission to the Institute is a lengthy process, it is advisable to consider all the alternative options available to you (such as lowering your subscription rate to a concessional rate) before submitting your resignation.
Should you wish to become a member again at some future point in time, a resignation will be looked upon more favourably than exclusion for the non-payment of fees. This may have some effect on your later readmission.
Readmission is an application process that involves providing references, evidence of continuing training and development, and paying an application fee and back-fees for membership. The application will be considered by the Board and this process may take some time.
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Q: Why is the annual Affiliate fee more than the member fee?
A: The Affiliate fee is the equivalent to the fees paid by a member in public practice, who pays an annual subscription fee and a Certificate of Public Practice fee.
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Q: I’m on a concessional subscription fee and usually receive a request to reconfirm. I haven’t received one this year, what do I do?
A: Members are obliged to inform the Institute whenever their circumstances change as a new concessional rate (higher or lower) may be applicable. The Annual Subscription renewal notice also has a section where it asks you to confirm if your circumstances have changed, and therefore your eligibility for concessional rate fees.
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Q: How do I cancel my Certificate of Public Practice (CPP)?
A: The first step in the process of cancelling your CPP is to complete the interactive guide on our website called 'Do I need a CPP'.
The outcome of using the guide will tell you whether you need to hold a CPP and, if so, at what rate (full, concessional or nil rate).
If through completion of this questionnaire you have determined you are no longer required to hold a CPP, you will need to complete an application form to cancel your CPP.
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Q: How do I apply for a concession?
A: To apply for a concessional rate of membership fee, you will need to complete an application form.
Once a concession is granted, the concessional rate continues to apply. Each year, you are asked to reconfirm your situation, confirming your eligibility to continue to receive the reduced rate of fees for the coming year.
In the past, this confirmation process has taken place in March and involved the completion of a form. From 2007, the confirmation process now occurs as part of the Annual Subscription process, with payment of the reduced rate being considered confirmation of your continued eligibility. If your circumstances have changed, you must indicate it on your subscription form and pay the higher amount.
If your eligibility for the concessional rate changes, resulting in either the full subscription rate or alternatively a different subscription rate being more appropriate, you should contact the Institute to discuss your changed situation.
As your subscription fee is invoiced annually it is most likely that any change to the subscription rate will not take effect until the following financial year.
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Q: I am not working in accounting anymore, what is the value of the designation and retaining my membership?
A: Many of our members do not work in traditional accounting roles anymore. The value of the designation signifies the highest quality training and rigour in a financial business background and this value can be applied to any area of business. As our membership continues to diversity we will ensure to continue to promote the value of the designation in all areas of business.
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Q: I am retiring, do I need to retain my membership?
A: Retaining your membership will ensure that even though you are no longer working/working full time that you stay in touch with what’s happening in the profession and possibly have the opportunity to share your vast experience and knowledge with other colleagues in the industry and younger members.
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Q: Can I get a reprinted membership reference card as I have lost mine?
A: Yes. You can have a new membership reference card reissued. To request this, please email your details through to service@charteredaccountants.com.au.
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Q: How is the Professional Standards Council (PSC) levy amount determined?
A: Those who benefit from a liability capping scheme will notice a PSC charge has been included for the period July 2009 to June 2010. The fees have been calculated on the basis of practice size, and have been allocated to Certificate of Public Practice holders. For more details on the PSC levy visit www.charteredaccountants.com.au/capping.
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