New South Wales woman Kathleen Noble was sentenced to 5 years jail, with 2.5 years to serve, in Orange District court on Friday after being convicted of refund fraud.
Between 25 July 2007 and 13 November 2012, and whilst receiving Centrelink benefits, Ms Noble lodged 140 false Business Activity Statements (BAS) on behalf of eight related entities claiming GST refunds for purported business expenditure of over $9 million. The expenditure claims were false.
The entities did not carry out an enterprise and the business expenditure claims never incurred. The entities were not entitled to receive any of the refunds.
Overall the accused claimed $957,710 in refunds. Of that amount $394,550 in GST refunds were paid into bank accounts she controlled and were not recovered. The remaining $563,160 in refunds were either credited to her ATO account, cancelled or recalled by the ATO.
Ms Noble had control of her parents’ bank accounts as well as the various accounts linked to the entities that received and attempted to receive fraudulent GST refunds.
As well as the jail sentence, a reparation order in the sum of $394,550 was also made of Ms Noble.
ATO Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston said that tax refund fraud is not a victimless crime and those who attempt to thwart the law will be exposed.
“Refund fraud cheats the whole community and disadvantages Australians who do the right thing. Given the extensive range of controls and systems in place to detect potential refund fraud, people should realise it’s only a matter of time before they’re caught,” Mr Cranston said.
If you are aware of fraudulent behaviour in our community you can report it confidentially at ATO website is currently unavailable or call 1800 060 062. Source Australian Taxation office ATO
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