Scott Bailey – Senior Director & Head of Tax Accounting, ITP Accounting Professionals

Connect on LinkedIn →

Scott Bailey is the Senior Director and Head of Tax Accounting at ITP Accounting Professionals. A registered tax agent with 35 years of experience, Scott specialises in individual income tax, small business taxation, ATO compliance and tax education.

Since joining ITP in 1991, Scott has worked closely with everyday Australians, sole traders, small business owners and tax professionals. He is known for making complicated tax rules easier to understand and helping clients claim the deductions they’re entitled to while meeting their tax obligations.

Scott also writes and maintains the ITP Income Tax Course. He draws on decades of practical experience to help aspiring tax professionals develop their knowledge. His work is guided by three principles: honesty, integrity and transparency.

About Scott Bailey

Scott’s career with ITP Accounting Professionals began in January 1991, although his connection to the business goes back much further. His father, John Bailey, founded ITP in 1971 with a commitment to making professional tax services accessible to everyday Australians.

Scott’s own path started elsewhere. After leaving school, he worked in landscaping and completed a church mission in Western Australia. When a health setback in his early twenties ruled out physically demanding work, he joined the family business.

He spent his first year at ITP’s head office learning the operational and corporate side of the business, then stepped up to area manager: eight years at the Bankstown office, followed by twelve at Burwood.

During this period, he also completed an accounting diploma at Baulkham Hills TAFE in 1996 and became a registered tax agent in 1999.

In 2011, Scott and his siblings, Shaunee, Nadene and Trent, took over the running of ITP. He returned to head office in 2012, where he now leads tax accounting across the ITP network while continuing to advise clients.

Areas of Expertise

• Individual income tax returns and deductions
• Small business and sole trader tax
• ATO compliance and reducing audit risk
• Interpreting tax law and legislative changes
• Tax education and training (author of the ITP Income Tax Course)
• Supporting tax agent franchisees and new practices

Scott’s Professional Approach

Scott believes tax is a great leveller: it touches everyone, from every walk of life. He focuses on building genuine, long-term relationships with his clients, explaining the rules in plain English, and making sure they claim everything they’re entitled to while staying firmly on the right side of the ATO. Honesty, integrity and transparency guide every piece of advice he gives.

Tax Education and Supporting the Next Generation of Professionals

One of Scott’s most significant contributions to ITP has been his work in tax education.

It began under pressure. An instructor resigned just one week before an ITP tax course was due to start. Scott took on the challenge, learning the entire 10-week syllabus and teaching the course himself.

His experience sparked a lifelong involvement in tax training. He went on to write the ITP Income Tax Course and still updates its content every year to keep pace with changes in Australian tax legislation and ATO requirements. The course covers assessable income, deductions, tax calculations, rental properties, business taxation and GST.

Scott’s teaching philosophy mirrors his client work: explain the rules clearly, use practical examples and help people understand the reasoning behind every tax decision.

Professional Involvement With the Australian Taxation Office

Scott’s experience extends to working directly with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

From 2011 to 2024, he served on the ATO’s Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group, collaborating with senior ATO representatives, including Deputy Commissioners, on matters affecting tax practitioners and taxpayers. The role gave him a platform to contribute practical insights drawn from working with clients and managing tax practices across Australia.

Scott continues to take part in ATO key agent groups and consultations across tax administration, regulatory developments and the issues shaping the profession.This work dovetails with his role at ITP, where he interprets legislative changes and translates them into clear, relevant guidance.

Qualifications, Registrations and Professional Achievements

Life Outside the Office

These days, Scott’s work is also his main interest, and he spends most of his time helping clients and supporting the ITP network. He is a dedicated family man and has once spent many happy hours restoring classic Mustangs.

Articles and Tax Insights by Scott Bailey

Explore Scott’s latest articles on individual income tax, small business taxation, ATO requirements, deductions and changes to Australian tax legislation.