ATO rebuked by tax watchdog for using debt collectors on people ‘doing the right thing’

<p>Inspector general of taxation and ombudsman, Ruth Owen, says she is receiving an ‘increasing number’ of complaints about tax office</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The ATO must be considerate of a person’s circumstances, Australia’s inspector-general of taxation has warned, after a spike in complaints over a third-party collector used to chase tax debts.</p><p>On Monday, Guardian Australia reported that the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/27/ato-tax-repayments-debt-collector">ATO had referred more than 355,000 taxpayers</a>, including welfare recipients, to the private equity-backed debt collector, Recoveriescorp, since January 2024.</p><p><strong>Do you know more? Email jonathan.barrett@theguardian.com</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/28/ato-rebuked-by-tax-watchdog-for-using-debt-collectors-on-people-doing-the-right-thing">Continue reading...</a>