The Australian Taxation Office has crashed through a major milestone as its hunts down billions of dollars from people cheating the system.

Community tip-offs about tax evasion and other dishonest behaviour have topped 300,000 since July 1, 2019.

In the last financial year alone, close to 50,000 reports were made about suspicious businesses and individuals.

Most tip-offs relate to shadow economy activity where people operate outside the tax and regulatory system, often demanding cash payment for work or deliberately claiming expenses they are not entitled to.

“When someone cheats the system, they’re not just breaking the law, they’re freeloading on honest businesses and the rest of the community,” ATO assistant commissioner Tony Goding said.

“Paying tax is not optional. Sooner or la

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