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KPMG manager ‘orchestrated a large-scale tax fraud’ worth $1m: ATO
Edmund Tadros
Aug 8, 2025
A former Sydney-based KPMG manager is facing fraud charges after he allegedly orchestrated a large-scale tax fraud using the firm’s credentials to lodge tax returns and then directed almost $1 million into his own account.
The man, who worked at the firm for 11 years and was not a registered tax agent, lodged tax returns he was not authorised to handle, according to the Australian Taxation Office.
He used KPMG’s credentials to access the ATO’s online systems to lodge returns for taxpayers he was representing and then directed almost $1 million in returns to his own account, the ATO alleged.
KPMG fired the manager immediately after the alleged misconduct was detected. A firm spokeswoman said the affected taxpayers were not KPMG clients, but it was unclear if the taxpayers believed they were dealing with a representative of the advisory firm.
One of the man’s alleged victims was unaware a refund had been claimed, while a second said he believed the bank account in question was a trust account held on his behalf.
No details were provided by authorities or the firm of the identity of the man, when the alleged wrongdoing began, nor how he had gained access to the KPMG’s ATO credentials.
ATO officers, along with Australian Federal Police officers, found accounting records and text messages relating to his preparation and submission of tax returns in a search of his eastern suburbs property earlier this week.
“Earlier this year KPMG became aware that an employee had concealed his provision of unauthorised tax services, in a personal capacity, to individuals and entities... KPMG promptly terminated the individual’s employment and is assisting authorities with their enquires,” a KPMG spokeswoman said.
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