Rich list Queensland: BLK’s Tyron Howard Brant in trouble with taxman

HE WAS flying high in the world of professional sportswear, even making Queensland’s rich list — then it all came crashing down.

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A FORMER Queensland rich-lister is facing the prospect of bankruptcy after getting into trouble with the taxman.

Tyron Howard Brant was co-founder and chief executive of a sportswear manufacturer that supplied a host of professional teams including the Wallabies, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Titans and Melbourne Storm.

But the 40-year-old from Helensvale on the Gold Coast owes $844,359 to the Australian Taxation Office after he allegedly failed to pay withholding tax as a director of World Rugby Specialists, according to court documents.

The ATO filed a creditor’s petition in the Federal Circuit Court in Brisbane on May 21 asking the court to bankrupt Brant for failing to pay the debt.

Four years ago, Brant and his father Kim — who developed the company with him — appeared in the Sunday Mail Queensland’s Top 150 Rich List with a fortune estimated at over $90 million.

Brant’s younger sister Lauren was a star with children’s entertainment group Hi-5. She is married to former AFL player Barry Hall.

Neither Lauren Brant or Hall have anything to do with Tyron’s business interests.

Tyron Brant with his father Kim in happier times

Tyron and Kim Brant’s WRS business — trading as BLK — was providing state-of-the-art apparel for a strong of top rugby, league, AFL and soccer teams, as well as supplying thousands of schools and grassroots clubs with gear.

They had expanded into the UK, Europe and the US, with plans to double the business.

But WRS was placed into receivership in 2016.

It sold its sportswear brands to an East Timor-based company last year.

But Brant remains chief executive of sports clothing seller BLK.

The Federal Circuit Court claim states the debt is the result of Brant’s failure to comply with a Supreme Court order made on January 29, 2018, to pay $842,882 in unpaid tax.

The Supreme Court claim was served on him at his Helensvale office on September 28, court records state.

The tax bill arose out of failure to pay withholding tax on behalf of WRS between June 2015 and February 2016, the Supreme Court heard.

He did not defend the Supreme Court action.

But court records show he paid $6256 to the ATO between September and December 2017, and has paid a further $1466 since the date of judgment.

The case is due in the Federal Circuit Court on June 27.

Brant did not return calls from The Sunday Mail.