ATO travel ban hits landlords, business operators in $50b blitz

Property owners and business operators with huge tax debts are being stopped at airports as the ATO launches a major campaign to recover $50 billion owed to the public purse.

This comes as the Australian Taxation Office warned it had issued 21 travel ban orders in the past six months – which was already more than the total for the entire 2024-2025 financial year.

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About $50 billion in taxes and major obligations await. Source: ATO

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While any taxpayer can be affected by the tax structure, those with property or business-related taxes are particularly exposed, the ATO is chasing $50b in debt, including unpaid employee overheads, taxes withheld from employees’ wages, or collected from customers as goods and services taxes but not passed on to government.

ATO assistant commissioner Anita Challen was particularly angry at those who prioritized their holiday plans over unpaid taxes or pension obligations to employees.

‘Taxpayers with huge debts to the ATO who think they can cross the country without paying what they owe the public should think again,’ he said.

‘We think most Australians would expect businesses to pay their employees superannuation before planning an overseas holiday.’

The consequences of the release of the DPO are serious and they are facing it. The taxpayer who issued the DPO was recently sidelined and prevented from boarding an international flight out of Australia early this morning.”

‘If you have a large debt with the ATO and we have issued you with a DPO, you will need to pay or make satisfactory payment arrangements before planning your overseas trip.’

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ATO assistant commissioner Anita Challen.

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He said ‘the ATO strongly encourages taxpayers who cannot meet their obligations on time, to contact us or speak to their registered tax professional in advance. Burying your head in the sand is not an option. “

The demolition of the multi-purpose tax office was also a way to raise red flags for people who may be on the way to putting other businesses at risk later on.

‘Tax non-payment affects everyone, and it is common for non-tax-paying businesses to owe money to more than one lender and, if left unchecked, can put other small businesses and their employees at risk.’

Prohibition orders target those who “take deliberate steps to avoid paying” debts, particularly if the ATO suspects someone is trying to “evade the regulatory environment”.

The ATO also uses methods such as director penalty notices, garnishees, credit reporting referrals and tax offset applications to recover outstanding taxes.

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