• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Self Employed Australia

"Everyone needs an Advocate"

“Everyone needs an Advocate”

  • Current Advocacy
    • Reforming the ATO
    • Fair Contracts
    • Fixing Disputes/Prompt Payment
    • The ‘Gig’ Economy
  • Past Advocacy
    • Submissions
    • Defending ABN Contractors
    • Work Safety
    • Independent Contractors Act
    • Owner-Drivers
    • International Labour Organisation
    • Independent Contractors: How Many?
  • SEA Submissions
    • Submissions
    • Independent Contractors: How Many?
  • NotAboveTheLaw
    • Robodebt
    • Hotel Quarantine 2020
    • Chemical Fire 2019
  • Be Your Own Boss

We oppose a draconian expansion of the ATO’s already draconian powers

August 16, 2018 by Self-Employed Australia

A proposed new law would effectively empower the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to bankrupt a business overnight where the ATO held an unproven view that PAYG tax was owed.

The law denies normal access to justice and the truth. It represents a scary step in a progressive crushing of the rule of law in Australia under the excuse of tax collection. We’ve made a submission opposing the Bill.

The law would authorise the Australian Taxation Office to deny tax deductibility of payments to employees, contractors and others where the ATO alleged that the paying party should have made PAYG tax withholding remittances on the payments. The ATO would not be required to prove the facts of its case before it acted.

We oppose the Bill because:

  • The ATO abuses its current powers and cannot be trusted. We explain this in our submission.
  • The Bill will expand the ATO’s unaccountable powers and would give the ATO the power of life and death over businesses on the basis of unproven ATO allegations.
  • The Bill goes beyond the intent stated in the Black Economy Taskforce Report and will enable the ATO to do considerable harm to the economy.
  • The rationale for the Bill as stated in the Black Economy Taskforce Report is illogical. When examined, it appears to be nothing more than a grab for additional ATO power.
  • The ATO already has extensive power to sanction improper black economy behaviour and if it is not being successful in this regard, it can only be because the ATO is inept and incompetent.
  • The Bill is unconstitutional.

We say that the Bill should not proceed, nor should it be contemplated until such time as the ATO has imposed upon it effective, proper and independent oversight to stop it abusing its powers and until it begins to operate in an ethical, moral and legal manner.

Filed Under: Campaigns, Reforming the ATO, Taxation

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • SEA historical website January 31, 2024
  • Closed doors January 31, 2024
  • We ask you: Make your views known to independent Senators! — Urgent January 9, 2024
  • We ask Senator Pocock: Does he support the outlawing of self-employment? January 5, 2024
  • Ooops! Common sense turns into double-cross. Trojan Horse December 14, 2023
  • Loophole Update – Common sense at last – Movement! December 7, 2023
  • Dancing with Alice at the Mad Hatter’s tea party – Loophole Bill farce November 29, 2023
  • Thank goodness for the independents! Loophole Bill is a huge PILL November 24, 2023
  • Loophole Bill – State of play November 20, 2023
  • You don’t save something by destroying it! November 13, 2023

Categories

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in