A tax agent helps individuals and businesses with tax compliance and planning. This includes preparing and lodging tax returns, advising on tax minimisation strategies, and assisting with various tax types like GST, FBT, and CGT. 

Generally, individuals earning above a certain income threshold or with tax withheld from their income must lodge a tax return. All businesses, regardless of structure, typically need to lodge annual tax returns. Consult a tax agent to confirm your specific requirements 

For individuals, gather income statements (e.g., PAYG summaries), bank interest, dividend statements, and records for deductions (e.g., work-related expenses, donations). Businesses need profit/loss statements, balance sheets, bank statements, sales/purchase records, and payroll data. Organised documents streamline the process.

BAS (Business Activity Statement) services involve a tax agent preparing and lodging your BAS with the tax authority. This includes calculating and reporting GST, PAYG withholding, PAYG instalments, and FBT. It ensures accurate and timely compliance, helping businesses avoid penalties and focus on core operations. 

Tax preparation is backward-looking, focusing on lodging past year's returns accurately for compliance. Tax planning is forward-looking, strategising throughout the year to legally minimise future tax liabilities. Both are crucial, but planning offers proactive financial benefits.