This Month
- Updated
- Lendlease
Lendlease tax woes could trigger second profit downgrade
John Wylie’s Tanarra Capital is pushing for a seat on the Lendlease board, as the country’s largest property group faces the prospect of a damaging profit downgrade after tax officials handed it a $112 million bill.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby, John Kehoe and Aaron Weinman
April
ATO told scam victim he owed $46k tax refund sent to fraudster
The victim of the scam was told he had to repay the money paid out to someone who had stolen his identity online.
- Tom McIlroy
Alcoa vows to ‘listen better’ as it closes in on Alumina
Alcoa boss Bill Oplinger says permitting delays in Western Australia showed the US company needed to listen better, as he prepares to spend $4.6 billion buying more Australian assets.
- Peter Ker
March
- Exclusive
- Taiwan
Street Talk triggered $207m freeze order; family ‘flight risk’
The rich Taiwanese-Australian family behind the Nature’s Care brand lied to the tax office about their income, court documents allege.
- Aaron Patrick
February
- Exclusive
- Atlassian
Atlassian pays $92m tax bill after years of ATO talks
The software developer has struck a transfer pricing agreement with the Tax Office and has agreed to retain intellectual property in Australia that it will pay future tax on.
- John Kehoe
Lendlease tax dispute exposes Aware Super
Superannuation fund Aware is set to become entangled in Lendlease’s $260 million dispute with the Tax Office over a portfolio of retirement village assets.
- John Kehoe
Lendlease reveals liability risk from PwC-advised $260m tax scheme
Three years after it dismissed a Financial Review story on a potential tax liability as “speculative”, Lendlease has for the first time disclosed it in its results.
- John Kehoe
December 2023
Big four partners face ‘career-ending’ fines in PwC fallout
The move is part of a broader multi-year suite of reforms being pursued by the government following the tax scandal which are designed to ward off similar conduct.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Tax minimisation
Coke shifted $430m offshore which should have been taxed: ATO
The Tax Office alleges that by not charging for intellectual property, The Coca-Cola Company avoided paying more in local taxes.
- Max Mason
November 2023
Pepsi loses ATO challenge on tax for Schweppes payments
The Tax Office has won a challenge by PepsiCo over assessments that it owed royalty taxes for deals it orchestrated between Singapore and Australian subsidiaries for beverage concentrate and branding rights.
- Max Mason
EY admits staffer drafted papers for alleged tax exploitation partner
EY Australia has admitted a staff member helped draft documents for a former partner who allegedly promoted tax exploitation schemes, but the firm says the person was acting on instructions and has not been disciplined.
- Max Mason and Neil Chenoweth
- Exclusive
- Tax minimisation
Coca-Cola fights ATO over $170m in offshore tax
The Tax Office alleges the beverage company’s profits were diverted offshore via favourable deals with its local affiliate for branding, trademarks and formulas.
- Max Mason
October 2023
- Exclusive
- Big four accountants
Big four ex-partner claims colleagues helped in tax exploitation scheme
The former partner, whose name is being suppressed along with that of the firm, hopes to file a limited defence to avoid incriminating himself.
- Max Mason and Neil Chenoweth
- Exclusive
- Consulting
Big four partner alleged to have promoted tax exploitation scheme
A former partner at a major accounting firm is facing significant fines for allegedly promoting tax avoidance schemes to seven clients.
- Max Mason and Neil Chenoweth
August 2023
Battler for small business could be next ATO commissioner
The ATO should improve public guidance about rules for legal assistance in disputes with small-business operators, a new report has warned.
- Tom McIlroy
- Exclusive
- Tax avoidance
‘Absolutely rampant’: How the ATO missed a $4.6b crime wave
Influencers on TikTok are being blamed for an explosion of fraudulent GST claims that banks and accountants say went unchallenged for years.
- Neil Chenoweth
Aggressive ATO debt chase driving insolvency bump: CBA
“The ATO has now gone a lot harder in collecting [tax debts],” CBA business bank boss Michael Vacy-Lyle said.
- Lucas Baird, Max Mason and James Eyers
June 2023
Top tax lawyer Mark Douglass bruised in Binetter judgment
The top tax lawyer wrote the first draft of letters later endorsed by the Israeli banks and sent to bamboozle the ATO.
- Myriam Robin
Binetters used fake names to set up bank accounts, liquidator claims
Steven Binetter was allegedly brought into the fold and helped aid a major tax avoidance scheme. He denies the claim and has signalled his intention to fight.
- Max Mason
Vindication in reach for ATO in 12-year Binetter saga
On Friday, Federal Court Justice Melissa Perry will deliver her judgment in the complex and highly contested case she heard nearly three years ago.
- Myriam Robin
