Plutus Payroll scam: Syndicate sell-offs fetch $15m for taxpayers

Two seized harbourside properties are likely to be sold off after their owner was jailed over an alleged payroll scam which siphoned $105 million from the ATO.

Taxpayers have snatched back more than $15 million in assets from a single member of the Plutus Payroll tax scam, which also allegedly involved the son of a former deputy tax commissioner.

An apartment at Lavender Bay with Harbour Bridge views and another hideaway overlooking Circular Quay were just a couple of signs Plutus Payroll founder Simon Anquetil, 38, was doing well for himself in 2017.

Anquetil was arrested in May that year and charged for his role in a scheme which siphoned off more than $105 million — money which should have been paid to the Australian Taxation Office on behalf of Plutus clients.

Simon Anquetil, who was jailed over the Plutus Payroll scandal. Picture: Hollie Adams

Adam Cranston has pleaded guilty over the matter. Picture: John Grainger

Adam Cranston — the son of then-deputy ATO commissioner Michael Cranston — was arrested at the same time.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Anquetil admitted to conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth and dealing with the proceeds of crime and was sentenced to at least five years jail in July last year.

The view from Anquetil’s seized Lavender Bay property.

The Bridge Street property overlooking Circular Quay is likely to be part of the $15.8m sell-off

The Australian Federal Police are now free to start selling the $15.8 million of Anquetil’s assets which they had restrained in the NSW Supreme Court at the time he was arrested. There were six properties, three cars, luxury watches and bank and investment accounts belonging to Anquetil. The money raised will go to the Commonwealth’s Confiscated Assets Account which is spent on crime prevention at the will of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

Investigators are concerned much of the money will never be recovered.