Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Beau Khan attempted more than $20k in tax fraud

A drunk 22-year-old moved from one end of Victoria to the other after he tried to scam $21,000 from the tax office.

Beau Khan plead guilty to attempting more than $21,000 in tax fraud

A night of drinking led a young man from Mildura to hand over his tax details to someone he couldn't identify and attempt to defraud the Australian Tax Office out of more than $20,000.

Beau Khan, 22, who recently moved to Geelong to get away from bad influences, attempted to steal $21,000 from the ATO after he lost his job.

In July last year, Khan set-up a fake mechanic business with the ATO and registered for GST, before claiming a $21,000 GST refund, police prosecutors told the court.

No money was issued and the tax office subsequently began an audit of Khan’s account.

Khan was later notified that his account had been cancelled as a result of the audit.

When Khan was taken to a police station for an interview, he told police he was too drunk to know who he gave his details to set up an ATO account.

Khan’s lawyer Hugh Middleton said it was purely out of frustration over his lost job and a drunken mistake that lead to his offending.

“He’d lost his job recently, and was frustrated, there was no sophistication in it and no money was obtained, ” he said.

Magistrate Patrick Southey acknowledged this was far less serious than most of the ATO fraud that had plagued the Mildura community, and that Khan didn’t receive any money.

“I accept that this was simply an extended hangover, and it was purely an attempt,” he said.

Khan was given 100 hours of community work and no conviction was recorded.