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Australian IGT Ali Noroozi
The Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT), Ali Noroozi, today confirmed he will not be seeking reappointment for a third term. Mr Noroozi has served in the role for 10 years and during this time has undertaken more than 30 reviews across a broad range of issues, including ATO debt collection, tax disputes, audits, transfer pricing, services to tax practitioners, taxpayer rights, IT upgrades and so-called ‘U-turns’.
There are three further reviews which Mr Noroozi hopes will be completed and released before his term concludes. These reviews relate to the ATO’s fraud control management, the future of the tax profession and garnishee notices.
During Mr Noroozi’s tenure, the office has grown over four times in size, playing a major role in delivering improvements and reshaping the administration of the Australian tax system. Mr Noroozi was the second IGT since the creation of the office in 2003.
Mr Noroozi said “the role of IGT has enabled me to drive significant change to the administration of the Australian tax system, champion taxpayer rights and assist taxpayers including the most vulnerable in our community.”
Since taking on an expanded role of providing a tax complaint handling service to the community in May 2015, the IGT has handled over 7,000 complaints with the vast majority acknowledged within two business days and finalised within 15 days. The IGT has consistently achieved a satisfaction rating of 80 per cent which Mr Noroozi said “was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team of tax specialists.”
“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to serve for ten years as the Inspector-General of Taxation and to have overseen the expansion of the role to include ombudsman services with respect to tax administration. I am grateful for the support that I have enjoyed from all sides of Parliament, the tax profession and taxpayers. I am proud of the significant and lasting improvements to the tax system that my office has achieved for the benefit of all Australians.
Internationally, we have also put the Inspector-General of Taxation well and truly on the map. “It has been widely acknowledged that our achievements well-exceed expectations of an agency our size. We have been recognised as leaders in public service innovation and I am indebted to my team and thank them for their support, hard work and dedication. In the meantime, we still have much more to achieve in my remaining four months,” he added.
Mr Noroozi said that he intends to remain active in both public and commercial arenas and has already committed to teaching a subject at the University of Melbourne’s Master of Laws program.
Source: Office of the Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT), Australia
