ATO nails tax cheats in third quarter
Almost 500 people were convicted for tax fraud and superannuation criminal offences in the September quarter, resulting in $1.56 million in fines and penalties, according to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Project Wickenby resulted in two prosecutions, and there were 13 prosecutions in total for serious tax and superannuation-related criminal offences.
There were a further 452 taxpayers convicted for deliberately evading tax and super obligations, of whom 440 failed to lodge tax returns and activity statements despite repeated notices, according to the ATO.
Overall there were seven custodial sentences and one suspended sentence, as well as two good behaviour bonds and three community service orders.
"A record jail term of nine years was handed to Vanuatu-based accountant Robert Agius for his role in promoting a tax minimisation scheme. He was the twenty-eighth person to be sentenced under project Wickenby," Tax Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo stated.
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