The cited record supports the material proposition.
The Tax Practitioners Board said in January 2023 that PwC breached its obligations under the law and the Code of Professional Conduct over a former partner's disclosure of confidential Treasury information.
- Claim made by
- Tax Practitioners Board, regulator statement
- Published
- 23 January 2023
- Evidence score
- 88 How it was scored
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026
Why this label
The board's release states that a former partner made unauthorised disclosures of confidential law reform information and was barred for two years from registrationS3. It found that PwC failed to properly manage conflicts of interest and breached its obligations under the law and the CodeS3. The board ordered PwC to put processes and training in placeS3. The finding is a regulator's decision. It does not decide any criminal question. Canberra Times reported in August 2025 that an AFP investigation was ongoing and no charges were reportedS5.
Current procedural position
TPB decision announced on 23 January 2023S3. AFP investigation ongoing as of 7 August 2025, with no charges reportedS5.
Record supporting the assessment
PwC breached its obligations under the law and the Code of Professional Conduct
PwC had failed to properly manage conflicts of interest
unauthorised disclosures of this confidential law reform information
Conflicting or limiting record
No record located that conflicts with this assessment.
Evidence score: 88 of 100
The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.
| Component | Points | Max | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition? | 28 | 30 | The TPB is the competent Australian regulator of tax agents. |
| DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts? | 19 | 20 | The release states the breach finding directly. |
| CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point? | 10 | 15 | Later press confirms the matter and the police probe but adds no separate finding. |
| Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes? | 13 | 15 | A regulator decision. The related police probe remains open. |
| CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments? | 8 | 10 | Checked against an August 2025 report. No 2026 update was found. |
| ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment? | 10 | 10 | The release is public on the TPB site. |
| Total | 88 | 100 |
Timeline
Related cases
- Tax Practitioners Board and PricewaterhouseCoopers AustraliaTax Practitioners Board. Regulatory. Not published.Stage: Decision issued. Separate AFP investigation ongoing as of August 2025.
- Former partner barred for two years and PwC ordered to put conflict processes and training in placeS3
Responses
- PwC Australia, 7 August 2025: Chief executive Kevin Burrowes said the firm was proud of the progress made but had more work to do.S5
Revision history
- Assessment first published with label Supported.
Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.
Sources
- S3Tier A Former PwC partner banned for integrity breachTax Practitioners Board. Regulator press release. 23 January 2023.Supports the ban and the finding that PwC breached the law and the Code. It does not address criminal liability.
- S4Tier A PwC: A calculated breach of trustSenate Finance and Public Administration References Committee. Commission report. June 2023.Report landing page with title and chapter headings. The full PDF was not read.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier C Govt labelled 'gutless' for lifting ban on PwC contractsThe Canberra Times. Press report. 7 August 2025.Report by Dana Daniel on the Department of Finance decision and the ongoing AFP probe. The Finance report itself was not read.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
Other claims about PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Supported83Chinese regulators said in September 2024 that PwC Zhong Tian had to a certain extent covered up and even condoned Evergrande's financial fraud in its Hengda audits.Press report, 13 September 20246 records citedAccounting
- Opinion65An Australian Senate committee report of June 2023 described PwC's handling of confidential tax consultations as a calculated breach of trust.Official report, June 20232 records citedMarket conduct