TPB terminates C&N Southwest Sydney registration, issues five-year ban

The Tax Practitioners Board has terminated the registration of C&N Southwest Sydney Pty Ltd and banned it for five years over 12 professional code breaches.

The TPB announced the sanction following an investigation that found the Western Sydney company and its leadership had engaged in serious misconduct.

Neither director was found fit and proper.

Investigators determined that company director Elle Ristevski and de facto and shadow director Peter Ristevski no longer met registration requirements.

According to the regulator, the company misled government agencies.

It provided false or misleading information to the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to help clients appoint "straw directors" and engage in creditor-defeating dispositions and phoenix-like behaviour.

Misleading information was also supplied directly to the TPB during its inquiries.

Client funds were compromised.

The TPB found client refunds were co-mingled with business and personal expenses and disbursed into an account over which the listed director and supervising agent had no control.

The company also allowed Peter Ristevski, an already disqualified entity, to provide tax agent services through an arrangement.

He faced prior regulatory action.

The TPB had previously published details of his contraventions under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 in a media release dated 1 June 2026.

Imposing the maximum five-year non-application period, the TPB labelled the misconduct extremely serious.

"Tax practitioners who attempt to support clients to evade their obligations will be identified, investigated and sanctioned," TPB Chair Peter de Cure AM said.

He said the vast majority of registered practitioners comply with their obligations and assist clients to meet taxation and corporate laws.

The TPB advised consumers to verify registrations on the TPB Register and report suspected unregistered preparers.