Island's accountants and architects are concerned.

Mr. Scott Hunter, president of the 550-member Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bermuda, said he was still pushing for a change in the Miscellaneous Taxes Amendment Act 1995.

Under the law announced in the February 15 Budget, every registered member of a professional organisation must pay the tax, which ranges from $50 a year for nurses, occupational therapists and radiographers to $2,500 for doctors.

The tax has already been adjusted once, to exempt young professionals from paying the fees in their first three years of practice.

Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants -- except for newly-qualified ones -- must each pay a tax of $2,000 a year, effective next January.

In a recent letter to members, Mr. Hunter said the Institute had made representations to Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul "regarding the unique structure of both our profession and our Institute, in that a large proportion of our membership is voluntary.

"Except for those members involved as partners in public practice firms, membership of ICAB is not necessary for most members.'' As the law is presently drafted, it appears most accountants could avoid the tax by giving up their voluntary memberships in the Institute.

In the letter, Mr. Hunter said he believed Dr. Saul "has an understanding for the position that we have put to him'', and was "open to further dialogue''.

Dr. Saul confirmed that he was studying the issue.

Mr. Hunter said the executive of ICAB would continue to make representations, and while "it would be premature to speculate on the outcome, amending legislation is possible''.

Meanwhile, Institute of Bermuda Architects president Mr. Stanley Kennedy said the $2,000 fee his 35 members were expected to pay was based on a false premise.

Unlike some professionals, architects were not protected from competition through registration, Mr. Kennedy said.

Those who were not registered were able to offer "architectural services'', and would be untouched by the new tax.

"It is not a matter that we can find a solution to overnight,'' Mr. Kennedy said. But with the cooperation of Dr. Saul, "a solution is indeed very, very possible, and hopefully likely''.