Reis Cibala Kaluka banned for two years by Tax Practitioners Board

A tax agent accused of “widespread and reckless behaviour” has had his registration terminated and been banned for two years after alleged issues with refunds.

A TAX agent accused of “widespread and reckless behaviour” has had his registration terminated and been banned for two years after alleged issues with tax refunds for four clients.

The Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) said Reis Cibala Kaluka allowed an unregistered preparer, Namro Services Pty Ltd, which has an address on Turpin Rd in Labrador, to provide tax practitioner services on his behalf. Namro Services had previously been terminated by the TPB.

The TPB alleged that Mr Kaluka allowed Namro Services – who he knew to have been terminated – to use his registered agent number and access client data via the Australian Taxation Office’s Online services for agents. Namro Services then allegedly invoiced and received client tax refunds directly, resulting in four client tax refunds allegedly being misappropriated.

The TPB also allege that Namro Services amended two client income tax returns (ITRs) during pre-issue audits and amended four client business activity statements (BAS), resulting in cash flow boost payments being disallowed.

Office of Namro Services in Labrador, Gold Coast.

Chair of the TPB, Mr Ian Klug AM, said the alleged actions of Mr Kaluka had caused “significant” problems for clients.

“Mr Kaluka’s failure to act honestly and with integrity and to provide adequate supervision over the unregistered preparer caused significant detriment to multiple clients,” Mr Klug said,

“Such behaviour puts the Australian community at risk and casts a shadow over those tax agents who do good work.

“The TPB has a duty not only to maintain the integrity of the registered tax practitioner profession, but to also protect consumers who fall victim to unlawful tax practitioners like Mr Kaluka.”

The TPB said its investigations also revealed that Mr Kaluka failed to lodge BAS, ITRs and tax file number (TFN) declarations relating to his own personal affairs and two companies of which he is the sole director.

“By failing to ensure his associated entities were complying with their tax affairs, those entities were subsequently placed into liquidation,” Mr Klug said. “He then allowed one company to engage in insolvent trading. This clearly demonstrates a pattern of widespread and reckless behaviour.”

Based on the findings of the investigation, the TPB determined that Mr Kaluka is no longer fit to provide tax agent services, terminated his registration, and prohibited him from applying for re-registration for two years.

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Originally published as Reis Cibala Kaluka banned for two years by Tax Practitioners Board