Payroll officer jailed for lodging 29 false returns in 3 months

The payroll officer was found to have lodged 29 income tax returns. (Source: Getty)

A former payroll officer who lodged 29 false income tax returns has been sentenced to four years in jail.

The NSW man, Faisal Hasan Rasel, had lodged the returns under the identities of 28 different people and a false identity that he assumed, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) said.

The returns, claimed between June 2015 and August 2015, totaled $182,365, with $64,451 of that in fraudulent refunds. Another $117,824 was stopped by the ATO.

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The $64,451 was directed to several bank accounts opened in different names.

“This sentence demonstrates that the ATO will take firm action against those who attempt to obtain fraudulent refunds,” acting assistant commissioner Megan Croaker said.

She noted that Rasel had used his position to access other people’s details, before committing the fraud.

“Mr Rasel was in a trusted position, which he exploited for his own gain. This behaviour shows blatant disregard for the law and will not be tolerated,” Croaker said.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions found that Rasel had committed five offences.

Croaker said the message for taxpayers was to regularly check their myGov account for suspicious activity.

“The effects of identity crime can be devastating. We want to make sure your information is safe and your myGov account is only accessed by you.”

The ATO added that taxpayers could report tax evasion and crime to the ATO by calling 1800 060 062 or through the app.

It comes after a South Australian man was sentenced to five years’ jail after he attempted to claim nearly $500,000 in fraudulent refunds.

And in August, the ATO caught a Gold Coast property developer who had attempted to claim $147,763.

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