Proposed work program for the 2005-06 year

On 5 August 2005, the Inspector-General consulted representatives from selected industry, business, accounting, legal practitioner and tax organisations about the prioritisation of his work program for the 2005/06 year.

Inspector-General broadens work program for 2006

David Vos, Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT), today released an update of his program of potential reviews for 2006. The update takes account of recent IGT consultations with community stakeholders and recent public debate on tax administration matters.

Inspector-General appears before JCPAA

David Vos, Inspector-General of Taxation today appeared in Sydney before the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) in respect of its “Inquiry Reviewing a Range of Taxation Issues within Australia”.

Inspector-General sets the Tax Office the objective to improve objections

The newly appointed Inspector-General of Taxation, Ruth Owen, has recommended changes to make it faster and simpler for all taxpayers to lodge an objection with the ATO.  

The Inspector-General’s report highlights 4 areas of improvement: 

  • increasing accessibility by extending online lodgement to all taxpayers 
  • streamlining processes to reduce time and resources devoted to high volume, low risk objections  
  • increasing taxpayer engagement to speed up the time taken to complete an objection  
  • learning lessons from objections to prevent the number of objections needing to be made. 

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IGTO launches ‘own initiative’ investigation into tax identity fraud – Understanding the extent of identity and financial fraud in the Australian tax system

IGTO seeks to know if you have been a victim of identity and/or financial fraud that is committed through the tax system – or know someone who has been?

The Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) is concerned about ongoing media reports of increasing instances of tax identity and financial fraud.

Our Office has held recent discussions with complainants and tax practitioners confirming taxpayers have been experiencing heightened instances of identity and financial fraud in relation to their tax affairs and accounts. This includes those relating to the ATO’s systems and processes to address these issues. As a result, the IGTO has commenced an ‘own initiative investigation’ into the important area of Tax Identity Fraud.

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History of the Taxpayers’ Charter

The Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) has today released a brief history of the Taxpayers’ Charter. The paper is intended to serve as a thought leadership document to encourage feedback and recommendations from stakeholders about how the Charter could be improved.

IGTO shines a light on ATO’s administration and management of taxpayer objections

The Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) Karen Payne, has today released her latest report comprising an initial review of the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) handling of objections by taxpayers.

The interim report and summary slide deck “Your taxpayer right to object – the ATO’s administration and management of objections” is Phase 1 of the IGTO’s investigation announced in December 2021, looking into the Australian Taxation Office’s Administration and Management of Objections.