Xero Partner Terms
Welcome to Xero’s Partner Program!
The Partner Terms (formerly known as Partner Agreement) outline what we expect from you and what you can expect from us as a Partner.
If you still have questions or comments after you’ve read these terms, please go to Xero Central to get in touch. We’d love to help.
Last updated on 16 June 2026. The updates are effective immediately for new Partners, and from 16 August 2026 for current Partners.
When you see a word in bold, it will have the same corresponding meaning every time it’s used within these terms.
Joining and Using the Program
1. You and Xero
1.1 When we say you or your, we mean both you and any entity or firm you're authorized to represent.
1.2 When we say Xero, we, our, or us, we're referring to the Xero entity you contract with and pay subscription fees to based on the edition of the Xero product you're using. You can find the Xero entity you contract with in Section 69 of Xero’s Terms of Use.
1.3 By agreeing to the Partner Terms on behalf of your company, organization, firm, partnership, or other corporate entity, you acknowledge and confirm that you are authorized to do so.
2. Becoming a Xero Partner
2.1 You may join our Partner Program (the Program) and become a Partner (Partner), if you are an accountant, bookkeeper or other provider of professional advisory services and are approved by Xero in its reasonable discretion.
2.2 To join the Program, you will need to:
(a) agree to the terms and conditions set out in the Partner Terms;
(b) ensure at least one staff member completes L1 Xero Associate Certification within 30 days from the date you agree to the Partner Terms
(c) Within 60 days from the date you agree to the Partner Terms:
(i) have at least one paid client subscription attached to your Partner account (not including the free Xero subscription for internal use provided under the Program); or
(ii) be invited into one paid client subscription in an advisor role; and
(d) Set up your Xero Partner Hub account including designating a Master Administrator and entering in payment information to establish your Practice Billing Account (together, the Partnership Prerequisites).
2.3 If you don't meet the criteria in clause 2.1, and complete the steps in clause 2.2, you won't be able to participate in the Program.
Partner Obligations
3. Ongoing Partner Obligations
3.1 To participate in the Program and receive the Benefits outlined in clause 6, you agree to comply with the following obligations on an ongoing basis:
(a) Adhere to the Xero Partner Code of Conduct (the Code).
(b) Ensure any promotion of Xero to both current and prospective clients aligns with your professional and ethical duties. Where appropriate, please include an active link to www.xero.com on your website.
(c) Ensure at least one staff member completes or renews their L1 Xero Associate Certification within 12 months of their certification date. For the L1 Xero Associate Certification to count towards your certification requirements, the staff member must be:
(i) actively serving clients, evidenced by logging into client organizations within the past 60 days; and
(ii) listed as a Practice Staff member in Partner Hub.
(d) Within 60 days from the date you agree to the Partner Terms, and on a continuing basis:
(i) have at least one paid client subscription attached to your Partner account (not including the free Xero subscription for internal use provided under the Program); or
(ii) be invited into one paid client subscription in an advisor role.
(e) Adhere to the Xero Partner Brand Guidelines, including by not using or registering XERO in your trademarks, company names, business names or domain names.
(f) Act in good faith in your use and offering of Xero.
(g) Only use Partner badges that correspond to your current Partner tier.
(h) For the subscriptions for which you are the subscriber (as defined in Xero’s Terms of Use) you must ensure:
(i) all your Xero Business Edition subscriptions are on one billing account;
(ii) all your Xero Partner Edition subscriptions are on a different billing account; and
(iii) each billing account must be paid by you or your business, not an individual client.
(i) If you’re an Australian-based Partner, comply with Australian Tax Office's Digital Service Providers regulations, as set out below in clause 17.
3.2 If you do not comply with the above obligations, Xero may:
(a) acting reasonably, temporarily suspend, reduce or remove any Benefits, Partner Points, status, and/or discounts you may have under the Program effective from the start of the next billing cycle until you meet the requirements set out above; and
(b) remove you from the Program, in accordance with the termination rights set out in clause 11.
4. Your Obligations as a Subscriber under the Xero Partner Code of Conduct
4.1 You acknowledge and agree that:
(a) If you act as the subscriber (as defined in Xero’s Terms of Use) on behalf of your client, there are certain requirements you must comply with, including during any dispute between you and your client (see clauses 3.1 - 3.3 of the Code);
(b) If you breach any of those requirements, in accordance with clause 5.2 of the Code, Xero may reasonably direct you to provide your client with read-only access to the Xero subscription within a specified timeframe (including while a dispute remains unresolved); and
(c) If you do not comply with Xero’s direction to provide your client with read-only access to the Xero subscription, Xero may also take any action it considers reasonably appropriate in the circumstances in accordance with clause 5.4 of the Code. This includes:
(i) temporarily reducing or removing any Benefits, Partner Points, status, and/or discounts you may have under the Program (or any Benefits and/or discounts you may have outside of the Program) until read-only access is provided to your client, to be effective at the start of the next billing cycle; and
(ii) removing you from the Program, in accordance with the termination rights set out in clause 11.
Partner Benefits
5. Tier and Points
5.1 Partners earn partner points based on the number of subscriptions and other activities set out on Xero Central (Partner Points). Your Partner Points determine your Partner tier. Please refer to Xero Central for details on:
(a) Partner Points required for each Partner tier; and
(b) How you can earn Partner Points.
5.2 You can monitor your current Partner Points and Partner tier in Partner Central. Partner Points are calculated daily based on the criteria set out on Xero Central.
5.3 To earn points for your client subscriptions, you either need to:
(a) own the subscription for your client; or
(b) be invited in with an advisor role into your client’s active Xero subscription.
You can only receive points for paid subscriptions, not trial subscriptions. You can only receive points once per subscription, irrespective of how many staff are invited into the subscription. To receive the points under clause 5.3(b) you must have logged into the relevant client organization within the last 120 days. For more details, please refer to Xero Central.
5.4 The Benefits available to you depend on your Partner tier. Please refer to clause 6 for more information on Benefits.
5.5 Any determinations by Xero on matters relating to the Partner Points (including Partner tier and the operation of the points system) will be final where the determinations have been made reasonably by Xero.
5.6 In addition to the standard Partner Points outlined above, Xero may, in its sole discretion, choose to offer bonus points from time to time. Bonus points may be offered through offers such as targeted or limited time promotions. The value of one bonus point is the same as 1 Partner Point. Bonus points will expire as outlined in the offer. Xero has no obligation to offer any bonus points (via additional challenges, promotions or otherwise), but if it does, these may be subject to additional terms and conditions outlined in the relevant offer.
6. Benefits
As a Partner, you will be eligible to receive the benefits applicable to your Partner tier, as detailed on Xero Central (Benefits).
7. Partner Edition Subscriptions
As a Partner, you have access to Xero Partner Edition subscriptions, which may include Cashbook and Ledger plans, depending on your region.
8. Third Party Services
8.1 Certain Benefits or offers made available to you through the Program may be provided by third parties, and not Xero (Third Party Services).
8.2 Access to the Third Party Services will be provided via a link to the third party’s website. You may be required to agree to the third party’s terms and conditions prior to receiving the Benefit.
8.3 By accessing Third-Party Services, you acknowledge that Xero is not liable for the availability or performance of third parties or the Third Party Services. Xero will reasonably endeavour to notify you if any Third Party Services become unavailable, unless immediate changes are required due to circumstances beyond our control.
General Terms
9. Xero’s Terms of Use
9.1 Xero’s Terms of Use governs your use of our services and your dealings with Xero.
9.2 The Partner Terms govern your participation in the Program and should be read in conjunction with Xero’s Terms of Use.
9.3 In the event of any inconsistency between the Partner Terms and Xero’s Terms of Use, Xero’s Terms of Use will take priority.
10. Changes to the Partner Terms
10.1 Xero sometimes will decide to change the Partner Terms and any applicable Benefits from time to time in its sole discretion. Any changes to the Partner Terms will be published on Xero’s website and won’t apply retrospectively. If Xero decides, in its reasonable discretion, that a change to the Partner Terms or any applicable Benefits is material, Xero will:
(a) reasonably endeavour to provide you with 60 days’ notice of material changes before they become effective; or
(b) if we need to make material changes for reasons outside of our control, we will notify you as soon as is reasonably practicable.
10.2 When we notify you, we’ll do it by email, at the email address on record or by posting a visible notice through our services.
10.3 If Xero decides in its reasonable discretion that a change isn’t material, we may not notify you. If you find a modified term unacceptable, you may terminate the Partner Terms in accordance with clause 11
11. Term & Termination
11.1 The Partner Terms take effect immediately when you agree to the Partner Terms, and remain in force until terminated.
11.2 Either party may terminate the Partner Terms for any reason by providing one month's prior written notice to the other party.
11.3 Either party may terminate the Partner Terms immediately if:
(a) the other party breaches any of the terms of the Partner Terms and does not remedy the breach within 14 days after receiving notice of the breach; or
(b) the other party breaches any of the terms of the Partner Terms and the breach cannot be remedied.
12. Effect of Termination
12.1 If the Partner Terms are terminated for any reason, you will no longer be able to participate in, or receive the Benefits of, the Program. This includes Partner Edition Subscriptions and all of the Benefits outlined in clause 6, including but not limited to access to Xero Central, Xero Partner Hub and Xero partner tools such as Xero Tax, Workpapers and Practice Management.
12.2 Even if the Partner Terms end, Xero’s Terms of Use will continue to apply to your use of Xero services. Additionally, the sections of the Partner Terms titled "Applicability of Xero’s Terms of Use", "Relationship of Parties", and "Indemnity" will remain in effect and survive any such termination.
13. Tax
You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for understanding and complying with all of your tax obligations in connection with your participation in the Program. You are responsible for any and all taxes, duties, and government charges arising from any payments, rewards, or benefits you receive under this program. This includes, but is not limited to, any liability for income tax, indirect tax (Goods and Services Tax (GST), Value Added Tax (VAT) and other sales taxes), fringe benefits tax, withholding tax and payroll tax. We recommend you consult with your own tax advisor to understand any tax implications arising from your participation in the Program.
14. Billing
14.1 If your client does not wish to manage and pay for a Xero Business Edition subscription themselves, you may manage and pay for that subscription on their behalf.
14.2 You agree to adhere to the Xero subscription and payment terms set out in Xero’s Terms of Use, as updated or amended from time to time.
15. Relationship of Parties
The Partner Terms doesn't create a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship between you and Xero. You can't enter into contracts or create obligations for Xero
16. Indemnity
16.1 You indemnify us against all losses, costs (including legal costs), expenses, demands or liability that we incur arising out of, or in connection with, a third-party claim against us arising from:
(a) your use of our services or any Third Party Services under the Program;
(b) your acts or omissions in relation to any aspect of the Partner Terms, including, but not limited to, your provision of professional services; or
(c) your breach of the Partner Terms,
except for losses arising from:
(d) a breach of the Partner Terms by Xero, its employees, contractors or agents, or
(e) any gross negligence, wilfull misconduct, fraud or material error that was solely the responsibility of Xero, its employees, contractors or agents.
16.2 For this indemnity, Xero will take reasonable mitigation measures where possible.
17. Australian Partners: Requirements for Partners to comply with ATO Digital Service Providers regulations
17.1 Xero and the Partner acknowledge there are government regulations which set out the minimum level of security requirements a Digital Service Provider (DSP) like Xero must meet in order to use the Australian Tax Office (ATO) Digital Services. The Partner plays a critical role in the verification steps required for each of its clients to ensure they are legitimate businesses for tax and reporting purposes.
17.2 As such, it is a requirement under the Partner Terms that Partners must complete each of the following steps whenever uploading individual entities, or as otherwise directed by Xero from time to time:
(a) verify the entity (i.e. ABN and current name) of each of your client’s businesses through a reliable independent source, for example the Australian Business Register;
(b) ensure you have valid and up to date client contact details, including an email for the particular business and phone number;
(c) ensure you can provide the information required in points (a) and (b) where requested by Xero or a relevant regulator; and
(d) ensure you do not set up any client’s businesses if you have reasonable grounds to believe any of their entities are not legitimate businesses.
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