Labourer, Rodney James McNeill, 46, jailed over $179,000 tax fraud for fake business claims

A labourer and former council worker has been jailed after admitting he invented a “site preparations services” business with a $2.1m turnover to falsely claim GST refunds of $179,000.

Rodney James McNeill, 46, pleaded guilty to eight charges related to tax fraud and was sentenced to three years jail. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A labourer who faked $2.1m of work for a business that did not exist has been jailed for a “blatant and brazen” $179,000 tax fraud.

Rodney James McNeill, 46, a labourer and former council worker, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to seven counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and to one count of attempting to obtain financial advantage by deception.

In documents tendered to the court by Commonwealth prosecutor Trent Denman, the court was told McNeill’s scheme involved lodging false Business Activity Statements between October 2021 and May 13, 2022.

McNeill reactivated an old Australian Business Number and used it to submit BAS, claiming he was engaged in site preparation services, the court was told.

The court was told the Australian Taxation Office issued McNeill with Goods and Services Tax refunds of $152,800 over seven payments.

McNeill’s eighth attempt to gain an additional $26,269 was unsuccessful.

Mr Denman submitted actual jail time was necessary for “deterrence and denunciation”.

Defence barrister James Sheridan said McNeill had struggled with a methylamphetamine addiction throughout his life, but had a good employment history despite these issues.

Mr Sheridan said McNeill, a father of six, had worked in civil constructions, labouring, the fishing industry and been a council worker.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC said tax fraud was not a victimless crime, and described McNeill’s fraud as “blatant, brazen, dishonest and protracted”.

Judge Trevino said McNeill spent the money on accommodation, hotels, motels and hire cars and withdrew large sums when the refunds were deposited to his bank account.

“Greed was your motivation,” Judge Trevino said.

He sentenced McNeill to three years jail, for release after 12 months on a $1000 recognisance order for four years, and ordered that he repay the money.

“It was offending that was committed against all of us – all Australian people – because the significant loss of revenue affects the whole of the community,” Judge Trevino said.

“It was an attack upon the administration of the revenue of the Commonwealth and it involved very substantial sums of money.”

Originally published as Labourer, Rodney James McNeill, 46, jailed over $179,000 tax fraud for fake business claims