The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a warning to the 22,000 people who owe it a collective $11 billion as it chases down billions more in unpaid tax .

In a speech to the Tax Institute today, ATO commissioner Rob Heferen said his organisation is currently owed some $50 billion in collectible debt.

"This debt is not disputed, most of it has been self-reported, and a significant portion is made up of amounts that have been withheld from employees' wages, or collected from consumers as GST – but not passed on to government," he said.

"While the majority of tax is paid on time – about 90 per cent – in dollar terms, there is a significant amount that isn't."

Heferen said collecting the $50 billion is a major focus for the ATO, and revealed there are 22,000 Australians

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