Karen Payne

The taxation watchdog has launched an investigation into whether the Australian Taxation Office effectively informs taxpayers of their rights. Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) Karen Payne on Tuesday said she would examine how clearly and completely the ATO communicates with taxpayers about their right to review, complain and appeal decisions and actions made […]

The anti-corruption commissioners in Darwin and Adelaide are both worried that public servants are too reluctant to tell them about misconduct and maladministration, while in Canberra, a Senate inquiry into the taxation watchdog’s performance highlights what they are afraid of.

The tax ombudsman wants greater powers to protect whistleblowers, award compensation and participate in cross-agency investigations. In its submission to a federal inquiry into the performance of the Inspector-General of Taxation, the watchdog called for stronger protections for “all those who disclose information to the IGTO — including as part of a complaint or review investigation”.

Tax lawyer Karen Payne has been appointed the next Inspector-General of Taxation, an office which recently took on the additional title of Taxation Ombudsman.