‘Very uncomfortable position’: ATO won’t rule out criminal charges in PwC legal stoush

  • 📰 smh
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 38 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 19%
  • Publisher: 80%

Australia Headlines News

PwC partners could face criminal charges over the auditing giant’s use of a legal shield to withhold information from the Australian Tax Office, in a move that may affect how ‘big four’ consulting firms approach corporate tax advice

.and meat processing company JBS last year after it refused to hand over corporate information during a tax audit, citing legal professional privilege.

Richard McHugh SC said the ATO’s refusal to rule out criminal prosecution against PwC had created a ‘very uncomfortable situation’.At the heart of the case is whether PwC inappropriately used legal professional privilege to withhold facts and evidence from the ATO in completing work for JBS and its subsidiaries.

“Unfortunately ... the Commissioner is not prepared to give any undertaking with regard to prosecution,” Mr McHugh said. “That’s a very uncomfortable position to find oneself with the threat of a prosecution hanging over one’s head.” “We now need to give very serious consideration to whether or not we seek a stay,” Mr McHugh said, adding his clients could be exposed to self-incrimination if the civil matter were to proceed.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Carolyn41600597 FishwickDavid CYBG_RemSupGrp

Not could. They must face criminal charges. Legalized crimes can no longer be tolerated.

3wombats Good. The hundreds of millions these people make annually from shielding government from accountability and corporations from tax is obscene.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 6. in AU

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

ATO data reveals Victoria remains the most reliant state on JobKeeper | Sky News AustraliaMore than two million fewer Australian workers were receiving JobKeeper by the end of last year compared to September based on figures the Morrison government will use to justify closing the program in March.\n\nThe reduction in reliance on the wage subsidy scheme was consistent across all industries, with the ATO data showing a 68-percent drop in the retail sector, and 52-percent drop in accommodation and food services.\n\nIn a state by state breakdown Victoria remains the most reliant on JobKeeper, with a fall of just 44-percent between the first and second phases of the scheme.\n\nIn comparison, WA recorded the best bounce back, with 70-percent of employees no longer receiving JobKeeper by the end of 2020.\n Cause that’s how the system works, we were shut until November, some businesses in certain industries loving it. Unfortunately some need it way more.... let’s see how each state is doing come Dec, 2021 That’s because the eligibility rules have changed significantly which has reduced the amount of payments being made.
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »

Charges against ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle could be droppedProsecutors are considering dropping charges against Australian Taxation Office whistleblower Richard Boyle. Bloody hope so. Outrageous in the first place!! I really hope this is the case, what he did was clearly in the public interest and charging him is clearly not in the public interest and sends a terrible message. Let us hope so.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Fresh hope for ATO whistleblower as prosecutor reconsiders caseWhen whistleblower Richard Boyle was first charged in early 2019 he faced 66 charges or the equivalent of 160 years in jail | ANALYSIS by Adele Ferguson The Government Of Aus; International Students are not virus and terrorists. We are the revenue sources for Aus. Stopping us is not the solution. We will follow all safety protocols. You just manage travel and border;we will pay for it. ScottMorrisonMP GregHuntMP JulianHillMP
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »

What the ATO is targeting this tax yearScrutiny of individual’s tax returns this financial year will include work-related expenses, rental deductions and capital gains from cryptocurrency, property and shares, the Australian Taxation Office has revealed. If you are that desperate for cash that need to file ur tax return on 1 July, i think you need to do some home budgeting. I don't get around to mine till about October
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »

Prosecutors refuse to drop case against ATO whistleblower Richard BoyleCommonwealth prosecutors have refused to drop charges against former public servant-turned-whistleblower Richard Boyle. Australia will regret not stopping the reception of people from India and Brazil immediately. Are you waiting for more deaths to stop? . Open your mind and open your eyes Shocking. When 'whistleblowers', servants who expose the crimes of their masters are the ones punished. There is no democracy. Just a sham.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »