Dale Thomas sued by ATO for alleged $600,000 tax debt

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has initiated legal action against former AFL player and media commentator Dale Thomas, seeking to recover approximately $599,293 in unpaid taxes, interest, and administrative penalties.

Court documents filed in the County Court of Victoria allege that the debt spans several financial years. While partial payments were reportedly made for the period between June 2019 and June 2022, the ATO claims no payments have been received for the three subsequent financial years. The alleged liabilities include significant amounts for the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 periods, alongside interest charges and penalties for failing to lodge returns.

Thomas, a veteran of 258 games for Collingwood and Carlton, stated he was initially unaware of the lawsuit and had not been served with the correspondence. He noted that he has since provided the matter to his accountant to resolve the dispute with the tax office.