The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is pleased to announce the publication of the 2026 edition of the Handbook of International Education Standards. This new edition compiles the full suite of International Education Standards (IES) 1–8, along with the supporting Framework and Glossary, and incorporates all recently revised and updated standards.

The 2026 Handbook is organized to support the consistent adoption and implementation of the IESs, which establish the principles, concepts, and requirements that underpin high-quality accountancy education worldwide.

This edition includes:

• The Framework for International Education Standards, which outlines the foundational concepts for developing and maintaining professional competence.
• A Glossary of Terms, providing essential definitions used across the standards.
• IESs 1–6, addressing entry requirements to professional accounting education programs and the initial professional development of aspiring professional accountants.
• IES 7, Continuing Professional Development, establishing requirements for lifelong learning for all professional accountants.
• IES 8, Professional Competence for Engagement Partners, which outlines the competence demands for engagement partners responsible for audits of financial statements.
• Revisions to IES 2, 3, 4 and 6 aimed at strengthening global consistency in formal assessment and supporting emerging skills needs in areas including ethics and sustainability.

This Handbook includes revised standards that become effective on July 1, 2026 and replaces the 2019 edition.

The new Handbook is available for download on the IFAC website.

About IFAC
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.

This new edition compiles the full suite of International Education Standards (IES) 1–8, along with the supporting Framework and Glossary, and incorporates all recently revised and updated standards.

The 2026 Handbook of International Education Standards is organized to support the consistent adoption and implementation of the IESs, which establish the principles, concepts, and requirements that underpin high-quality accountancy education worldwide.

Alongside IFAC’s recent Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Advisory Group meeting, we co-hosted a special side event in collaboration with Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) Network USA at Fordham University.

This joint engagement brought together perspectives from practice, industry, technology, and academia, enabling an insightful exchange on the real-world impacts of AI on business and the accountancy profession, how our work is evolving, and what we need to do to remain relevant in the future. It featured practical observations, real examples, and candid reflections from a panel of global experts leading AI-enabled change within their organizations and with clients.

We have compiled five short videos that capture the key themes from the panel discussion. These digestible clips reflect on how AI is influencing the pace of change, the evolving role of accountants, the importance of trust and design, and emerging leadership responsibilities.

These informed reflections and perspectives come from leaders immersed in digital and business-model transformation. Their views provide a timely snapshot of the current AI landscape and the urgent considerations shaping the profession’s future.

Watch them now: 

• This Is the Slowest It Will Ever Be
• AI Isn’t Changing What We Do — It’s Changing How
• Trust Is the Product of Design
• Accountants Won’t Be AI Reviewers — They’ll Be Designers
• Leadership in the Age of Intelligence Is Innovation

Explore more insights from the IFAC Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group.

About IFAC

IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organizations are champions of integrity and professional quality, and proudly carry their membership as a badge of international recognition.

IFAC and its members work together to shape the future of the profession through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.

Public trust in tax remains strongest in Asia – particularly South-East Asia – and the  Anglophone Pacific (Australia, Canada, New Zealand), driven by digital access and transparency. In contrast, Europe and Latin America show less confidence in the fiscal contract between citizens and the state, according to the new survey findings. 

Public Trust in Tax 2025: Asia and Beyond, produced by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), surveyed more than 12,000 individuals across 29 countries, primarily in Asia but also in Latin America, Western Europe and the Pacific.  The report explores perceptions and personal experiences of taxation, as well as attitudes towards tax competition and co-operation to provide insights into public confidence in tax systems. 

Discussed during a panel session at the IFAC Connect ASIAPAC 2025 event in Jakarta on December 4, the survey results reveal that taxpayers across Asia largely view their tax systems as equitable and are significantly more confident that their taxes deliver fair public value compared to survey respondents across other regions. 

Across all 29 countries surveyed, respondents were more likely to view tax as a contribution to their community rather than a cost, indicating strong support for the fiscal contract in theory. This sentiment was strongest in South-East Asia, where nearly two-thirds (64.7%) agreed. 

Looking at the fiscal contract in practice in almost two thirds of the countries in Asia, respondents were more like to agree that tax revenues are spent for the public good, compared to only a third of the countries beyond Asia, underscoring that trust still needs to be earned through transparency and effective service delivery. 

This finding is consistent with the results regarding public perceptions of the tax system. In three quarters of the countries in Asia respondents were more likely to agree that their tax system is equitable, compared to less than a quarter of the countries beyond Asia.  

Across all countries, respondents reported that the most effective aspect of tax administration was digital tax services, while satisfaction with tax authority communication was much lower in Latin America and Western Europe than in Asia. Clear communication appears to matter as respondents who found tax authority messages easy to understand were four times more likely to trust the authority. 

Across all regions, accountants remain the most trusted source of information on tax, while politicians and social media continue to rank the lowest. This credibility gap reinforces the vital role of professional accountants in shaping public understanding of fairness, ethics, and accountability in taxation. 

Support for international co-operation on tax policy is strong globally, with respondents favouring collaboration over competition to create more coherent global tax systems. In Asia, there is also robust support for using fiscal policy to drive sustainable development, especially for infrastructure and green energy projects. 

Helen Brand OBE, Chief Executive of ACCA, said: “Asia’s strong public trust in taxation offers valuable lessons for the world. People here see tax as a contribution to the community, not just a cost, but that trust can’t be taken for granted. Transparency, fairness, and visible returns for taxpayers are what sustain confidence in the fiscal contract over the long run.” 

Lee White, Chief Executive Officer of IFAC, added: “Trust is the foundation of every tax system. This report reminds us that confidence in the fiscal contract is strong, but it must be continually earned. As the most trusted voices in tax, professional accountants play a vital role in upholding that trust—through integrity, sound judgement, and a commitment to the public interest.” 

Ainslie van Onselen, Chief Executive Officer of CA ANZ, said: “Public trust in tax is the bedrock of a fair, functioning economy. These results show that when people see transparent, tangible benefits – whether it’s funding for essential services or driving sustainable growth – they’re more willing to engage. The accountancy profession has a critical role to play as insightful and trusted advisers, supporting collaboration with policymakers and tax authorities to achieve outcomes in the public interest.” 

Manal Corwin, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, commented: “This is the first phase of a new project for the OECD looking at tax morale in Asia. We will discuss these results with governments in the region over the next year to identify the drivers of trust in tax across Asia, and best practices to build trust. This will help governments design fairer, more responsive and more coherent tax systems.”  

Public Trust in Tax 2025: Asia and Beyond is jointly produced by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), and the OECD.  

Join the launch event 
Join ACCA, IFAC, CA ANZ, and the OECD on 11 February 2026 for the launch webinar of Public Trust in Tax 2025:Asia and Beyond, where the findings will be presented and discussed with policymakers, tax authorities, international organisations, and the accountancy profession. 
[Register here] 

Access the report 
Read Public Trust in Tax 2025: Asia and Beyond [here] . 

Media enquiries 

ACCA Newsroom 
E: newsroom@accaglobal.com | X: @ACCANews | www.accaglobal.com 

IFAC Communications 
E: IFACCommunications@ifac.org | www.ifac.org

OECD Media Office 
E: news.contact@oecd.org | X: @OECDtax | LinkedIn: OECD Tax | www.oecd.org/en/topics/taxation.html 

CA ANZ Media Relations 
E: media@charteredaccountantsanz.com | www.charteredaccountantsanz.com 

About the partners

About OECD
The OECD works with policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens to establish evidence-based international standards and find solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges.
www.oecd.org

About ACCA
We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body. Founded in 1904, we support over 257,900 members and 530,100 future members in 180 countries. Our qualifications and insights equip accountants with the ethical judgement and expertise to drive sustainable value for organisations and economies worldwide.
www.accaglobal.com

About CA ANZ
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) represents over 136,000 members across 190 countries. We advocate for the profession and support our members in upholding trust, integrity, and excellence in the public interest.
www.charteredaccountantsanz.com

About IFAC
IFAC, by connecting and uniting its members, makes the accountancy profession truly global.

IFAC member organisations are champions of integrity and professional quality, carrying their membership as a badge of international recognition.

Together, we shape the profession’s future through learning, innovation, a collective voice, and commitment to the public interest.
www.ifac.org

Azlina Bulmer recently joined ICAEW as International Director and part of ICAEW Leadership Team. Ms. Bulmer has overall responsibility for ICAEW’s international offices and operations to ensure that ICAEW continues to provide a high-quality service to members, students and stakeholders across the globe.

Most recently, Ms. Bulmer was Managing Director and a member of the Board of Directors at the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), the professional body for the automotive sector. During her 12 months leading IMI, she returned the Institute to profit. Previously, Ms. Bulmer held the position of Executive Director of Membership & Engagement at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) with responsibility for CII’s membership activities and engagement programmes in the UK and internationally.

Prior to the CII, Ms. Bulmer was the Director of International at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), where she established the RIBA’s first international directorate in 2019 and led on the expansion of the RIBA’s operations and profiling in target markets in Middle East and China.  Ms. Bulmer originally joined the RIBA in January 2016 as Head of Operations, Nations & Regions, managing the operations of the RIBA’s 10 UK regions.

Ms. Bulmer’s early career included public sector work in economic and community development, which was followed by seven years working at a social investment bank.  She is currently an associate non-executive director on the Board at Harrogate District NHS Foundation Trust and has held several non-executive director roles previously including Chair of Finance & Estate Committee at University College of Osteopathy and Chair of The Works UK.

Stephen Shields is the Director of Partnerships & Recognition for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), based in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr. Shields leads on ACCA’s strategic partnerships with global employers, sectors, national bodies; its approach to recognition risks and opportunities; and consultancy and capacity-building initiatives. He also oversees ACCA’s relationships with leading organisations including the World Bank, the Department for International Development and the United Nations.

Mr. Shields has worked with ACCA for over 21 years, based for the majority of that time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prior to joining ACCA in January 2004, he was Regional Branch Manager of Zurich Financial Services Group.

Educated in his native Australia, followed by the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, Mr. Shields has had more than 25 years of experience in corporate management positions in the finance industry, both in Western countries and also in the Arab region. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights with Distinction from Glasgow Caledonian University.