Short answer
Yes, your accountant can value your business if they have valuation experience and their firm offers that work. A further question is independence. When the accountant who prepares your accounts and tax return also sets the value used in that return, they are partly checking their own work. An independent valuer keeps the number separate from the tax outcome.
Yes, if three things line up
Tax law does not generally say who must prepare a market valuation of a business, and the ATO notes there is no formal admissions board for business valuers in Australia. The ATO says acceptability usually turns on the process followed, not who did it, and expects a suitably experienced, objective valuer, a recognised method and credible evidence. So your accountant may well be able to do it. Three questions help you decide.
| Ask your accountant | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Do you value businesses yourself, and how often? | Valuation is a specialist skill. Some firms have someone who does it regularly. Others prefer to refer it out. |
| Will it be a full valuation, a limited scope valuation or a calculation? | Accountants who belong to any of the three professional accounting bodies must follow APES 225, which separates these three types. A calculation is not a full valuation report. |
| Will the report say whether you acted independently? | APES 225 asks a written report to state this. The ATO also expects a report to declare the valuer’s independence and any conflicts of interest. |
Why independence matters more than the job title
Your accountant is on your side, and that is their job. They usually prepared the accounts a valuation would rely on, they may advise on the tax result, and they often prepare the return where the value is used. Nothing is wrong with any of that. It does mean they would be valuing a business whose numbers they produced, for a purpose where the answer affects their own client's tax.
The accounting profession's code of ethics names both pressures. A self-review threat is the risk of not properly evaluating earlier work you will now rely on. An advocacy threat is the risk of promoting a client's position so far that objectivity suffers. APES 225 adds that an accountant in public practice must not act as an advocate when a valuation is meant to be independent.
The ATO's guidance expects a valuer to remain objective, and it lists a declaration of independence and any conflicts of interest among the things a report should contain. The ATO may review any valuation, and says a review is more likely where the value is high or the method is contentious. You stay responsible for the figure, so the more that rides on it, the more it can help that the person who set it had no stake in the tax result.
How your accountant and an independent valuer share the work
Choosing an independent valuer does not cut your accountant out. Each keeps a separate job.
| Your accountant | The independent valuer |
|---|---|
| Advises whether the 1 July 2027 CGT changes affect you, and whether to use a valuation or an apportioning method (once one is made) | Values the business or interest at the agreed date, such as 30 June 2027 |
| Advises on the small business CGT concessions and how the value is used in your return | Sets out the method, evidence and key assumptions in a written report your accountant can follow and question |
| Supplies the accounts and background, with your written consent | Gives no tax advice and has no stake in the tax result |
At Independent Business Valuation, a suitably qualified business valuer at Valuo values the business or interest and signs the report. Independent Business Valuation does not give tax advice. Fixed fee, confirmed in writing before we start. No hourly billing and no surprises. The fee does not change with the value we reach. A referring accountant sees your matter only with your written consent, and your documents come through the secure upload link on your matter, never by email.
Read the full guide
- Small business valuation for owner-run businessesIndependent Business Valuation values owner-operated businesses across Australia: the café, the trade business, the clinic, the online store. We...
- Private Company Share ValuationsShares in a private company have no screen price. When a shareholder buys in or exits, shares move within the family, or the 30 June 2027 CGT rules...
- Business valuation for CGT purposesCGT is usually worked out from real numbers: what you paid and what you received. When there is no price, or the price was set between related...
- Our valuation process, from first question to signed reportEvery valuation at Independent Business Valuation follows the same eight steps, from a single cafe to a family group with three trusts. You know the...
- How a valuation worksThe steps, what we analyse and what the report contains.
- What a valuation costsOne fixed fee for turnover under $10 million, confirmed in writing before we start.
Related questions
Should I talk to my accountant before getting a valuation?
Yes. Your accountant knows your structure and your tax position. Whether you need a valuation at all, or can use another permitted method, is a question for your tax adviser. If you do need one, they can refer you to Independent Business Valuation, or you can contact us directly and bring them in from the start.
Can my accountant check an independent valuation?
Yes, and it is a sensible step. A good report sets out the method, the evidence and the main assumptions clearly enough for your accountant to follow each step and ask questions. Before the final report, you sign a representation letter confirming the information you supplied.
Does an independent valuation mean the ATO will accept it?
No valuer can promise that. The ATO judges a valuation mainly on how it was done, may review any valuation and leaves you responsible for the figure. Australia has no formal admissions board for business valuers, although you can ask the ATO to confirm a valuation through a private ruling (it will not rule on a valuation method or a future-dated value), paying any valuation fees the ATO incurs.
More short answers
- Who can value a business for tax purposes?There is no formal admissions board for business valuers in Australia. The ATO’s guidance says a valuation’s acceptability usually depends on the...
- What is the difference between a valuation and a calculation engagement?In a full valuation, the valuer decides what work is needed and reaches a conclusion of value. In a calculation engagement, the valuer and client...
- How do accountants refer clients for a business valuation?Get the client's agreement, then choose a route: the single client referral form for one matter, a bulk quotation request for a list, or the...
- Is a 30 June 2027 valuation needed for every business?No. The 30 June 2027 rule applies to assets held by Australian resident individuals and trusts with at least one eligible beneficiary, not...
Sources
- ATO, Market valuation for tax purposes (legal database)ato.gov.au
- APESB, APES 225 Valuation Services (October 2024, effective 1 January 2025)apesb.org.au
- APESB, APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards)apesb.org.au
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 (No. 49, 2026), as madelegislation.gov.au
- ATO, Tax reform: reforming negative gearing and capital gains taxato.gov.au
Updated
General information only, not advice about your circumstances. A valuation depends on the facts of the business and the purpose it is for.