Tax crime prosecution results

Summary prosecutions

Under the Taxation Administration Act 1953, we prosecute a range of summary offences, including:

• failing to lodge a tax return, BAS or FBT return
• failing to comply with an information gathering notice
• failing to comply with a Court Order under s8G of the Tax Administration Act
• making false or misleading statements
• incorrectly keeping records.

Last year there were 177 prosecutions that resulted in 174 criminal convictions, reparation orders of $458,785 and fines of over $2.1 million.

Annual results continue to increase as we resume normal operations post-COVID and environmental influences.

Summary prosecution results

Year	Prosecutions	Convictions	Reparation orders ($)	Fines ($m)
2022–23	177	174	458,785	2.14
2021–22	91	91	129,824	0.908
2020–21	198	192	56,400	1.65
2019–20	641	599	172,950	4.00
2018–19	1,152	1,094	229,458	8.25
2017–18	2,035	1,880	311,008	13.75
2016–17	2,190	1,952	32,039	14.91
2015–16	2,060	1,780	455,363	11.24
2014–15	1,614	1,540	56,675	9.59
2013–14	1,773	1,540	35,471	13.02

Tax crime prosecutions

We investigate more serious tax-related fraud offences, sometimes in partnership with the Australian Federal Police. Where the evidence warrants it, we refer cases to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) to consider prosecution.

Under the Criminal Code Act 1995, the CDPP prosecutes a range of indictable offences, including:

• obtaining financial advantage by deception
• dishonestly causing a loss to the Commonwealth
• forgery offences
• money laundering.

Last year there were 26 cases, resulting in 23 criminal convictions, 11 custodial sentences and more than $1.7 million in reparation orders.

These figures have increased from the previous financial year, as we resume normal operations post-COVID and environmental influences.

You can read about our most recent tax crime prosecutions.

Tax crime prosecution results

Year	Cases	Convictions	Custodial sentences	Reparation orders ($m)	Fines ($)
2022–23	26	23	11	1.72	17,200
2021–22	21	15	12	14.64	2,000
2020–21	20	20	12	0.55	56,000
2019–20	30	26	18	1.63	0
2018–19	41	38	27	8.14	34,583
2017–18	23	23	21	4.79	15,000
2016–17	30	29	23	6.46	8,150
2015–16	26	26	21	4.57	100
2014–15	37	33	30	9.94	4,600
2013–14	45	34	26	3.36	3,800

Serious financial crime offences

Our most serious tax crime matters are dealt with by the cross-agency Serious Financial Crime Taskforce.

We prosecute offences under the Taxation Administration Act 1953 and work with other agencies on tax-related fraud cases.