Neil Forbes Hansen in court over alleged GST breaches

The managing director of a Noosa freight company has fronted court after the business allegedly failed to lodge GST returns for nearly a decade, facing 43 charges from the tax watchdog.

Maroochydore Court House. (AAPImage/David Clark)

The Australian Taxation Office has brought charges against a Noosa freight company, claiming it failed to lodge GST returns between 2015 and 2023.

Neil Forbes Hansen, the managing director of India Pacific Enterprise Logistics Pty Ltd, appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday, hoping to have the charges dismissed.

While Mr Hansen is named in the proceedings, it is the company, that is facing the charges, not Mr Hansen personally.

Court documents allege the company failed to lodge several GST returns as required between October 29, 2015, and September 26, 2023.

According to the documents, the Australian Taxation Office served a notice to Mr Hansen at the company’s Doonan address on August 14, 2023. It is alleged Mr Hansen failed to comply with the notice.

In court, Mr Hansen sought to have the charges dismissed, arguing that the company’s GST returns were now up to date.

He presented a letter from an accountant stating that Business Activity Statements (BAS) and tax returns had been lodged through to June 30, 2023.

However, Magistrate Kurt Fowler clarified that resolving the charges required a different process.

He explained that while the prosecution could withdraw the charges if evidence supported Mr Hansen’s claims, the case would need to proceed until formally finalised.

Mr Fowler said if the matter continued in February, Mr Hansen would be required to enter a plea to the charges.

The case is scheduled to return to court on February 13.

Originally published as Neil Forbes Hansen in court over alleged GST breaches