Accountants now able to complete BPS forms on behalf of farmers

Government has now added members of AAT to complete the forms for farmers

Accountants holding membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) are now able to complete forms on behalf of ‘active farmers’ who qualify for the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS), the Government has announced.

The BPS is the biggest of the European Union’s rural grants and payments to help the farming industry, and can be applied for annually by some farmers who have at least five hectares of agricultural land and five ‘entitlements’.

As part of the application process, farmers need to supply evidence – including a certificate from a practicing accountant – to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in order to show that they are ‘active’, meaning that they are not carrying out specific non-agricultural activities.

Previously, ‘active farmers’ could only supply the certificate from an accountant who was also a practicing full member of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB), including ACCA, CIPFA, or the ICEAW.

However, the Government has now added members of AAT or an equivalent accountancy institute or association which is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) to those who can complete the certificate.

AAT members continue to be able to sign the forms on behalf of young and new farmers.

Adam Harper, AAT’s Director of Professional Development, said: “We are very pleased that the Government has broadened the scope of accountants that active farmers can turn to in order to qualify for the Basic Payment Scheme.

“The Scheme is of great importance to many people working in such a vital UK industry, and AAT members will now be empowered to help many thousands of farmers access this funding through providing the necessary responses to the RPA.”