‘Psychologically unsettling’: ATO pursuing more taxpayers for decades-old debt

<p>Tax office has launched a new initiative to claw back debts despite criticism of similar scheme dubbed ‘robotax’</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 Australian Taxation Office is pursuing a new batch of taxpayers over decades-old debts, drawing comparisons to its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/26/traumatising-experience-ato-under-fire-for-denying-debt-relief-to-at-risk-taxpayer-in-robotax-fallout">widely criticised</a> and suspended “robotax” initiative.</p><p>One taxpayer was recently pursued over a supposed debt of a few thousand dollars from 2006, which only appeared on his online tax portal this year, and was followed up by several phone calls demanding payment.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/03/australian-tax-office-ato-pursuing-more-taxpayers-for-decades-old-debt">Continue reading...</a>