ATO: micromanaged and understaffed. Why was our reader yesterday on hold for an hour and a half with the Australian Tax Office? An insider explains: “The Tax Office only funds the call centres on the basis of the smallest numbers of calls received. Therefore in busy periods there are delays for clients ringing the Tax […]
Australian Taxation Office
Thomson’s tax time bomb. Tick, tick, tick
Embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson is facing some serious issues with the Australian Taxation Office, writes Chris Seage, tax consultant and former ATO audit manager.
Taxation: cops target phoenixing and refund fraud
Tradesmen, building workers, elite athletes, cleaners and dodgy businessmen who collapse companies are on the tax office budget hit list over the next four years, writes Chris Seage, a tax consultant and former ATO audit manager.
Hoges, dodging the ATO, expecting a smaller tax bill
The Crime Commission yesterday waved the white flag in its fight against Australian entertainment icon Paul Hogan and his manager and mate John Cornell. But Hogan isn’t exactly in the clear yet with the other Wickenby authorities, says Chris Seage.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: Problem children bring more money
Which top ranking public schools advise parents that their children have Aspergers, attention deficit disorders and social problems in order to rubber stamp extra funding?
Tax: small business hit with avalanche of tax audits
The government will allocate a further $445 million to the Australian Taxation Office in its fight against tax cheats. But it won’t cover everyone, writes former ATO audit manager Chris Seage.
Rambo tax auditors put on notice
There would be some valid complaints about some ATO practices but what’s behind all this? It’s simple. Big tax bills; that’s what’s behind the whingeing and complaining of the tax advice industry, writes tax consultant and former ATO audit manager Chris Seage.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: How low does Abbott’s manscaping go?
There is a very large picture of Tony Abbott on page 4 of today’s West Australian showing a very even strip of bare skin between the top of his budgie smugglers and the rug on his stomach. A waxer or a shaver?
Lobbyists, US big hitter slam ATO over private equity tax row
The private equity tax row continues as lobbyists and one of the richest men in the US lash the Australian Taxation Office’s attempts to levy income tax on certain private equity profits.
Did Rupert pull a A$21 billion dodgy on the tax department?
The Tax Office is continuing to chase Murdoch’s News Corp over an alleged “contrived” capital loss of A$1.5 billion, created to avoid paying A$500m in tax. Was News Corp’s complex ‘flip and spin’ company restructure used to avoid A$21 billion in taxes?
Private equity funds and the pillage of Australia
The big winner in the recent Myer float was the private equity firm that managed to float $452 million of tax money offshore, writes John Passant.
ATO-TPG fight may force legislators to act curb tax favours
The emerging stoush between the Australian Tax Office and the former private equity owners of Myer should warm the cockles of the hearts of every long-suffering Australian taxpayer.
Senator Nick Sherry is turning into a chameleon
In Opposition, Nick Sherry was a ferocious interrogator of the tax commissioner in estimates hearings. It’s amazing how politicians can suddenly change when they get into government, writes Chris Seage.
Tax Office won’t prosecute Australia’s worst tax cheat
Glenn Wheatley is jailed for $300,000 in tax cheating. Yet an unnamed tax cheat who owed tax totalling $242million gets away with no prosecution, writes Chris Seague.
Tips and rumours: Things to change at The Oz?
Is The Oz set for a major overhaul? And what’s happening down at the ATO?
Tips and rumours: Frustrated accountants tell all
News from the ATO, hard times hit the SMAge, why the Rio Tinto case is far from over, and a surreal sighting of Alexander Downer.
Tips for tax cheats: who the ATO are going after this year
Want hints on how to be a tax cheat? Then read the new Australian Taxation Office compliance, where they actually tip you off on what they’re looking for.
D’Ascenzo under pressure over Wickenby breaches
Commissioner of Taxation Michael D’Ascenzo is under pressure after details emerged that the ATO secrecy has been breached, writes Chris Seage.
Wheatley guns down Wickenby then leaves the country
Were Wheatley’s words the rants of someone holding a grudge against the system that sent him to the big house or should we listen carefully to what he said, asks Chris Seage.
Tax Office launches investigation into Gong-gate bribes
Crikey understands that crack auditors from the ATO’s Serious Non-Compliance Squad have been assigned to investigate the dirty deals and bribes scandal in Wollongong Council, reports Chris Seage.
Warning tax dodgers: seven extra havens under scrutiny
The ATO is currently negotiating to exchange information with seven tax havens around the world and while the ATO hasn’t released the names of the countries, I would be getting very nervous if I had funny money in the following locations, writes Chris Seage.
