History

Our History

On 15 October 2001, the Prime Minister announced the creation of an Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT). Our office was formally set up by the Inspector-General of Taxation Act 2003. We operate independent of the Commonwealth Government and the Australian Parliament.

Our Budget and staffing levels however, are determined by Government – click here for our Annual Report and details of the current budget and staffing levels.

Karen Payne was appointed as the Inspector-General of Taxation on 6 May 2019 for a period of 5 years.

Inspector-General of Taxation (since 2003)

As the Office of the Inspector-General of Taxation, we help to improve the administration of taxation laws for the benefit of all taxpayers, tax practitioners and other entities. This includes:

investigating systems established by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to administer taxation laws, including systems for dealing or communicating with the public generally, or with particular people or organisations in relation to administrative matters under those laws; and

investigating systems established by taxation laws – to the extent that the systems deal with administrative matters.

Taxation Ombudsman (since 2015)

From 1 May 2015, the IGT also became the Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) to help members of the community address their complaints about the administrative actions of the ATO or the TPB.

Our Taxation Ombudsman function can help taxpayers and tax practitioners by investigating complaints made about the actions or systems of the ATO. We rely upon our powers of investigation – on both ATO and taxpayer evidence – to make recommendations. However, we cannot make tax decisions on behalf of the ATO or direct the ATO to take particular actions.

We can also help taxpayers and tax practitioners by investigating complaints made about the actions or systems of the TPB – which registers Australian tax practitioners and Australian financial (tax) advisers.

Former Inspectors-General of Taxation

Mr David R Vos AM (4 August 2003 – 5 November 2008)

Mr Ali Noroozi (6 November 2008 – 5 November 2018)

Mr Andrew McLoughlin (Acting) (6 November 2018 – 5 May 2019)

Ms Karen Payne (6 May 2019 – 5 May 2024)

Mr David Pengilley (Acting) (6 May 2024 – 14 July 2024)

Inspector-General of Taxation (since 2003)

As the Office of the Inspector-General of Taxation, we help to improve the administration of taxation laws for the benefit of all taxpayers, tax practitioners and other entities. This includes:

investigating systems established by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to administer taxation laws, including systems for dealing or communicating with the public generally, or with particular people or organisations in relation to administrative matters under those laws; and

investigating systems established by taxation laws – to the extent that the systems deal with administrative matters.

Taxation Ombudsman (since 2015)

From 1 May 2015, the IGT also became the Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) to help members of the community address their complaints about the administrative actions of the ATO or the TPB.

Our Taxation Ombudsman function can help taxpayers and tax practitioners by investigating complaints made about the actions or systems of the ATO. We rely upon our powers of investigation – on both ATO and taxpayer evidence – to make recommendations. However, we cannot make tax decisions on behalf of the ATO or direct the ATO to take particular actions.

We can also help taxpayers and tax practitioners by investigating complaints made about the actions or systems of the TPB – which registers Australian tax practitioners and Australian financial (tax) advisers.

Former Inspectors-General of Taxation

Mr David R Vos AM (4 August 2003 – 5 November 2008)

Mr Ali Noroozi (6 November 2008 – 5 November 2018)

Mr Andrew McLoughlin (Acting) (6 November 2018 – 5 May 2019)

Ms Karen Payne (6 May 2019 – 5 May 2024)

Mr David Pengilley (Acting) (6 May 2024 – 14 July 2024)