Sydney tax agent sentenced over false tax claims
A Sydney tax agent has been sentenced for 20 months for lodging false income tax returns and amendments which cost the Commonwealth almost $180,000.
Hussain Nazeer from Mount Druitt, NSW, who was a former Business Activity Statement (BAS) agent, lodged 22 fraudulent tax statements for 14 of his clients between 2010 and 2013 after amending their statements, resulting in $23,000 of refunds which he kept himself.
He also submitted 108 false amendments on behalf of 37 taxpayers, mostly relating to car and medical expenses, which resulted in a further $156,000 in refunds.
He was ordered by the court to pay $179,826 in reparations.
Australian Tax Office (ATO) assistant commissioner, Adam Kendrick, said: “As demonstrated in this case, even registered tax professionals can be dishonest and take advantage of their clients. That is why it’s important for the ATO to maintain the integrity of the tax profession and weed out those who try to undermine their trusted position.
“Mr Nazeer’s actions showed a complete disregard for not only the law, but also his clients’ trust by lodging fraudulent tax returns and amendments in their names.”
Nazeer’s registration with the Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) ceased in 2016.
AUTHOR
Laura Dew
Recommended for you
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority has reported an 18 per cent increase in investment and advice complaints received in the financial year 2025, rebounding from the previous year’s 26 per cent dip.
EY has broken down which uses of artificial intelligence are presenting the most benefits for wealth managers as well as whether it will impact employee headcounts.
Advice licensee Sequoia Financial Group has promoted Sophie Chen as an executive director, following her work on the firm’s Asia Pacific strategy.
The former licensee of Anthony Del Vecchio, a Melbourne adviser sentenced for a $4.5 million theft, has seen its AFSL cancelled by ASIC after a payment by the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort.
