Yes. AI companies buy records from accounting practices, and micro1, Handshake AI and Turing accept companies in Australia. Published payouts for this kind of company run A$140K to A$710K ($100K to $500K), from micro1's qualified-partnership tier. APES 110 requires confidentiality, and the Tax Practitioners Board Code of Professional Conduct restricts disclosing client information.
What accounting practice records AI buyers want
BAS and year-end workflows are repetitive and well documented, which suits training data once client identities are removed.
Mercor runs an accounting firm listing (US firms only); micro1 lists finance and accounting processes.
| Record | Why buyers want it |
|---|---|
| Close checklists and reconciliations | micro1 lists reconciliations, approvals and reporting workflows. |
| Engagement workflows and review notes | Show how a reviewer catches problems. |
| Firm SOPs and templates | Your own material, so the easiest to license. |
| De-identified workpapers | Valuable once client identities are removed. |
Which AI data buyers accept Australian accounting practices
Buyers disagree on Australia: some estimators price it with Europe, others with the rest of the world.
| Buyer | Fit for Australia | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| micro1 | Partial fit | Closed companies with 50+ peak staff; operating companies considered case by case; lists finance and accounting processes |
| Handshake AI | Possible | Professional services is closest; 20+ staff and 3+ years; accepts companies outside the US |
| Turing | Possible | Full operating records up to $1M; strongest demand in the US, UK, Canada and EU |
Published payouts in AUD
Micro1's qualified-partnership tier is the closest published figure for accounting practices, converted to AUD. Larger programs pay more for long, linked histories.
| Published figure | USD | AUD |
|---|---|---|
| micro1, qualified partnership | $100K to $500K | A$140K to A$710K |
| micro1, large-scale datasets | $500K to $2M | A$710K to A$2.8M |
| Handshake AI, advertised range | $100K to $4M+ | A$140K to A$5.7M+ |
Australian rules for accounting practices
APES 110 requires confidentiality, and the Tax Practitioners Board Code of Professional Conduct restricts disclosing client information.
Any personal data left in the records falls under Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles; the Australian privacy steps apply to every industry. Before anything leaves, exclude:
- Client financial statements and tax identifiers.
- Material covered by professional confidentiality rules.
- Data from client systems you accessed under engagement letters.
Can an accounting firm license client working papers?
Only with client identities removed and only where professional confidentiality rules and engagement letters allow it. Firm-wide procedures, close checklists and review-note patterns are the lower-risk core.
Our guide covers this in depth: AI data licensing: a guide for lawyers, accountants and advisors.
US tax on the license fee
For Australia: 5% with a treaty form (W-8BEN-E).
Source: IRS: Tax treaty tables
Common questions
Do AI companies buy accounting practice data in Australia?
Yes. micro1, Handshake AI and Turing accept companies in Australia. BAS and year-end workflows are repetitive and well documented, which suits training data once client identities are removed.
How much do AI companies pay for accounting practice data?
Published payouts for this kind of company run A$140K to A$710K ($100K to $500K), from micro1's qualified-partnership tier, with larger tiers for big or unique datasets. Actual offers depend on your records and rights.
Is it legal for an accounting practice in Australia to sell company data?
APES 110 requires confidentiality, and the Tax Practitioners Board Code of Professional Conduct restricts disclosing client information.
Can an accounting firm license client working papers?
Only with client identities removed and only where professional confidentiality rules and engagement letters allow it. Firm-wide procedures, close checklists and review-note patterns are the lower-risk core.
Sources and further reading
Origin Data Partners is independent and not affiliated with any buyer named on this page.