Build trust and transparency in your tax affairs

Confidence in your tax governance revolves around an embedded Tax Control Framework (TCF). An effective framework informs day-to-day operations with clarity and robust controls.

Whether you're a CFO, tax manager, or board member, the pressure to demonstrate control over your tax affairs is growing.

Globally, tax authorities expect businesses to have documented control frameworks and real time controls testing. In Australia, the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) Justified Trust methodology places tax governance and risk management at the heart of its compliance approach.

BDO’s Global Tax Assurance and Risk Management service helps you develop, enhance and assess your internal Tax Control Framework (TCF), ensuring it meets international standards and satisfies regulatory expectations.

We tailor our starting point to your needs

Whether you're just starting out or already have a framework in place, we adapt our approach to meet you where you are.

For businesses with limited governance or seeking a health check, we begin with either a Tax Operating Maturity Model (TOMM) assessment or gap analysis to benchmark your current state of tax operations against the ATO’s expectations
For businesses with a TCF already in place, we use the TOMM assessment or gap analysis to enhance your framework and documentation
For businesses with a TCF embedded in their operations, we focus on monitoring, with independent periodic tax controls testing and ATO readiness assessments.

Our approach helps to:

Strengthen governance and reduce risk
Improve transparency and stakeholder confidence
Equip you with tools to confidently report to the Board
Ensure you’re positioned to meet the ATO’s rising expectations
Ensure your tax affairs are in order with fewer surprises.

Is your tax governance strong enough to earn the ATO’s trust and board assurance?

Securing ATO trust and board confidence with robust tax governance

Tax authorities are raising the bar. In Australia, the ATO’s Justified Trust methodology now affects a growing number of corporate taxpayers.

A key focus? Tax risk management and governance.

A poor rating, such as a red flag, signals either no tax control framework or serious concerns. A higher rating indicates your framework is well-designed (Stage 2) and operating effectively (Stage 3), leading to fewer enquiries and more efficient engagement.

For CFOs and tax managers, this isn’t just about compliance - it’s a critical element of enterprise risk management and stakeholder trust. Strong tax governance is no longer optional; it’s essential. Boards are increasingly asking:

Are our tax risks identified and managed?
Do we have the right controls in place?
Can we demonstrate our governance is operating effectively to regulators and stakeholders?

How BDO can help

BDO can help you design and implement a globally recognised TCF that:

Aligns with the OECD and ATO expectations
Embeds governance, accountability, and transparency
Enables proactive tax risk identification and management
Integrates with ESG, finance transformation, and broader business strategy.

We begin with a TOMM assessment or gap analysis for businesses seeking a baseline or health check.

For those with a TCF already in place, we offer targeted reviews to assess design and control effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

Our goal is to help you build a framework that supports a culture of no surprises, giving you peace of mind that your tax affairs are well managed.

Get in touch

Many of our clients get value from seeking expert support following the completion of the TOMM. Such support could include a briefing session to talk through your strategy and aspirations, an enhanced TOMM report with targeted recommendations, or further guidance on the next steps needed to address any weaknesses that may exist.

Contact our team to discuss your needs using the request for service form.
Alternatively, call 1300 138 991 to speak with an adviser in your nearest BDO office.