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Robodebt still alive and kicking? As I said at the time Bas, if people think data matching and computerised debt collecting by the ATO is over, tell them they are dreaming.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/ato-reignites-old-debts-individuals-businesses-struggle/103578746[/URL]

She had worked through years of therapy, finally got a mortgage for a new home, and started her own business.

But she says the tax office has now derailed her life by hitting her with an alleged tax debt dating back to the 2008-09 financial year — a debt she never knew existed.

"I'm devastated, absolutely devastated; inconsolable," Ms Carrington tells ABC News.
"After so many years, it makes it so hard, because you've got to go back through historical documents that you do not have … it's an absolutely terrible thing."

The ATO sent hundreds of thousands of Australians letters late last year alerting them, or their tax agents, that they have historical tax debts, causing many people like Ms Carrington confusion and distress.

In 2015 the ATO deemed the 2008 debt – which at the time was about $15,000 — as "uneconomical to pursue".

And in 2016, her accountant told her this debt had been effectively written off and she didn't need to worry about it.

While the debt still theoretically exists, typically the ATO doesn't pursue debts that are deemed "uneconomical to pursue" because it's more costly for the agency to chase them down than to write them off.

But, last year, the ATO resurrected Ms Carrington's debt, along with alleged debts belonging to thousands of other Australians.

These debts had effectively disappeared and then reappeared many years later, along with hefty interest charges.

The ATO has said it was owed more than $15 billion from 1.8 million entities, largely consisting of individuals, but that this figure could be higher once interest is applied to those debts.

It did not say how much higher, but Ms Carrington has so far been hit with interest charges amounting to double the value of the original debt, and the claimed debt is now $34,000 and still growing.

<blockquote data-quote="sptrawler" data-source="post: 1270029" data-attributes="member: 28038">Robodebt still alive and kicking? As I said at the time Bas, if people think data matching and computerised debt collecting by the ATO is over, tell them they are dreaming.&nbsp; <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />[URL unfurl=&quot;true&quot;]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/ato-reignites-old-debts-individuals-businesses-struggle/103578746[/URL]She had worked through years of therapy, finally got a mortgage for a new home, and started her own business.But she says the tax office has now derailed her life by hitting her with an alleged tax debt dating back to the 2008-09 financial year — a debt she never knew existed.&quot;I&#039;m devastated, absolutely devastated; inconsolable,&quot; Ms Carrington tells ABC News.&quot;After so many years, it makes it so hard, because you&#039;ve got to go back through historical documents that you do not have … it&#039;s an absolutely terrible thing.&quot;The ATO sent hundreds of thousands of Australians letters late last year alerting them, or their tax agents, that they have historical tax debts, causing many people like Ms Carrington confusion and distress.In 2015 the ATO deemed the 2008 debt – which at the time was about $15,000 — as &quot;uneconomical to pursue&quot;.And in 2016, her accountant told her this debt had been effectively written off and she didn&#039;t need to worry about it.While the debt still theoretically exists, typically the ATO doesn&#039;t pursue debts that are deemed &quot;uneconomical to pursue&quot; because it&#039;s more costly for the agency to chase them down than to write them off.But, last year, the ATO resurrected Ms Carrington&#039;s debt, along with alleged debts belonging to thousands of other Australians.These debts had effectively disappeared and then reappeared many years later, along with hefty interest charges.The ATO has said it was owed more than $15 billion from 1.8 million entities, largely consisting of individuals, but that this figure could be higher once interest is applied to those debts.It did not say how much higher, but Ms Carrington has so far been hit with interest charges amounting to double the value of the original debt, and the claimed debt is now $34,000 and still growing.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="sptrawler, post: 1270029, member: 28038"] Robodebt still alive and kicking? As I said at the time Bas, if people think data matching and computerised debt collecting by the ATO is over, tell them they are dreaming. ;) [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/ato-reignites-old-debts-individuals-businesses-struggle/103578746[/URL] She had worked through years of therapy, finally got a mortgage for a new home, and started her own business. But she says the tax office has now derailed her life by hitting her with an alleged tax debt dating back to the 2008-09 financial year — a debt she never knew existed. "I'm devastated, absolutely devastated; inconsolable," Ms Carrington tells ABC News. "After so many years, it makes it so hard, because you've got to go back through historical documents that you do not have … it's an absolutely terrible thing." The ATO sent hundreds of thousands of Australians letters late last year alerting them, or their tax agents, that they have historical tax debts, causing many people like Ms Carrington confusion and distress. In 2015 the ATO deemed the 2008 debt – which at the time was about $15,000 — as "uneconomical to pursue". And in 2016, her accountant told her this debt had been effectively written off and she didn't need to worry about it. While the debt still theoretically exists, typically the ATO doesn't pursue debts that are deemed "uneconomical to pursue" because it's more costly for the agency to chase them down than to write them off. But, last year, the ATO resurrected Ms Carrington's debt, along with alleged debts belonging to thousands of other Australians. These debts had effectively disappeared and then reappeared many years later, along with hefty interest charges. The ATO has said it was owed more than $15 billion from 1.8 million entities, largely consisting of individuals, but that this figure could be higher once interest is applied to those debts. It did not say how much higher, but Ms Carrington has so far been hit with interest charges amounting to double the value of the original debt, and the claimed debt is now $34,000 and still growing. [/QUOTE]

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