IRTA Achievements

IRTA has brought together leading members of the global commercial and corporate barter industry from all over the world, including firms in Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, the Ukraine, Germany, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, The Czech Republic, United Kingdom, and the U.S.

Through its efforts, IRTA has expanded opportunities for trade exchanges by lobbying for increased use of trade. IRTA successfully lobbied U.S. Congress for trade exchanges to be recognized by the IRS as third party record keepers. The TEFRA Act was signed into law by President Reagan in 1982, which gave trade exchanges in the U.S. this important status. IRTA was responsible for a U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board ruling allowing unrestricted trade of air transportation – a landmark case.

In Australia, IRTA member companies played a major role in helping the ATO to increase public awareness of the tax treatment of barter transactions. In the U.S. IRTA has been recognized by the IRS as a partner in educating small-businesses on the proper accounting and reporting of trade transactions. It has cooperated with the Better Business Bureau and Financial Accounting Standards Board on matters of mutual interest. It has assisted tax and securities authorities and State Attorney Generals in New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and California with its expert advice on the barter industry. It lobbied successfully to defeat adverse regulatory legislation in California and Iowa.

IRTA has also enhanced the reputation of the association and its members with the development and introduction of an international certification program – Certified Trade Broker (CTB) – which recognizes an individual's level of professionalism and barter knowledge. The association works continuously to raise the standards of trading conduct and educate members and the general public about the importance of a sustainable, reputable exchange. The Code of Ethics, established in 1979 is, to this day, a cornerstone to the purpose and standard of IRTA membership.

Its global board of directors meets regularly to set strategies for the association and plan for the annual international Barter Convention. In addition to this annual event, one or more training conferences may be held in regions around the world to educate and improve the professional competence of those in the industry.