Three people have been jailed for tax fraud offences while another 18 people have been charged over “a number of large-scale deceptions” of financial institutions and government agencies, Queensland Police and the ATO have said.
Detectives allege the 18 individuals provided false details to receive fraudulent payments, defrauding the Australian Tax Office out of $2 million.
The sting was part of a wider investigation with the ATO, which targeted offenders allegedly inventing fake businesses and submitting false Business Activity Statements to collect a GST refund.
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Three people were jailed as part of the operation.
Queensland woman Tiarn Payten Nutley was found guilty of defrauding the ATO out of $50,000, and attempting to gain another $25,000.
The ATO said she used an existing ABN to claim fraudulent GST refunds for a beauty and salon services business.
She was sentenced to nine months in jail before she was released on a recognisance release order. She is required to be on good behaviour for a year.
She had shared her MyGov log-in with two friends, who planned to lodge six false business activity statements (BAS) in her name.
One of those friends, Skye Anne Hoek, was also sentenced over the tax fraud.
Hoek lodged two BAS containing false information from Nutley’s account, resulting in a $25,000 payday from GST refunds.
She has been jailed for three months.
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In a separate case, Queensland man Gregory Pimm lodged 37 BAS for a road freight transport business that didn’t exist.
Pimm claimed he ran the company from his home.
He received over $165,000 in GST refunds and attempted to obtain another $300,000.
The ATO said Pimm falsely reported total sales, GST collected on sales, GST on purchases made for the business and GST credits the ATO owed him.
He was sentenced to 2 years and six months, but he will be released on recognisance of $500 after serving 6 months.
Since the start of the investigation in 2022, officers have charged 84 people with defrauding the ATO out of over $8.5 million.
ATO Acting Deputy Commissioner Kath Anderson said tax fraud was “not a victimless crime.”
“There are consequences for committing it,” Anderson said.
“These consequences can have a huge impact on your life, from employment, the ability to get a loan, to asset confiscation and ultimately jail time”.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace said Queensland police will continue cracking down on alleged tax fraud.
“The Queensland Police Service (QPS) will continue to work closely with our government partners to identify and prosecute criminals who profit from defrauding the government,” Grace said.
“The cost of offending is large and has a real impact on the economy and community, the results would not have been possible without the assistance provided by the Australian Taxation Office.”
