Under-siege Raptis breaks silence on ATO tax chase
BESIEGED developer Jim Raptis has spoken publicly about his crippling stoush with the Australian Tax Office, claiming he is in “productive discussions” as the office chases almost $110m in unpaid tax and penalties.
The comments come a week after he publicly claimed that he’d been denied the right to object to tax assessment notices, which allegedly show he owes millions of dollars in unpaid tax and penalties.
The court froze more than $80m in assets linked to Jim Raptis, wife Helen and son Evan, including the veteran developer’s $20m Paradise Waters mansion and a Lexus LS500 sedan, in a hearing without notice on October 1.
The freeze came as the ATO seeks $109.7m from Mr Raptis, members of his family and other entities they allege are linked to him.
Mr Raptis’ family members are not accused of wrongdoing, criminal or otherwise.
In a statement to the Gold Coast
Bulletin via a spokesman, Mr Raptis said he was co-operating with the ATO.
“Our representatives are in productive discussions with the ATO seeking to clarify and resolve all outstanding matters,” the representative said.
The tax office declined to comment on the matter due to confidentiality. In a statement provided to The Australian earlier this month, Mr Raptis said he’d been working with the tax office on “personal matters” for 18 months and was “very disappointed” when the tax office issued him with “unrelated” tax assessments and sought freezing orders in his absence.
The case was adjourned on Thursday, and the asset freeze was extended, to a hearing on November 18.
Under tax law, all taxpayers have the right to lodge an objection to assessments made by the ATO.
The office’s website offers comprehensive advice on how to lodge an objection, as well as forms to be completed and lodged online or sent via post.