A surprising number of electronics have been reported lost by ATO staff

A surprising number of work-related iPads, smartphones and computers have been lost or broken by ATO staff.

Australian taxpayers have footed the bill for more than 250 lost or broken smartphones over the past two years. Picture: SUPPLIED

TAX office staff have lost or broken more than 250 smartphones in the past two years, with taxpayers footing the bill.

Documents released under freedom of information laws reveal more than 600 work-­related items including iPads, computers, smartphones and keys, have been lost, broken or ­stolen from the Australian Taxation Office since 2016.

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According to the audit, 235 smartphones have been broken in the past two years, with some repairs costing $200 a phone. Another 43 smartphones were stolen or lost at an estimated replacement cost of between $800 and $1000 each. More than 145 tablets have been broken in the past two years. Some iPads were ­replaced at a “discounted rate” of $500 each, and taxpayers paid about $96,000 for more than 200 ­devices that were lost, stolen or broken.

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At least 11 tax office-issued laptops, valued at between $1000 and $1500 each, were also lost or stolen in the past two years. An extra 27 computers were damaged, costing taxpayers more than $12,000.

An ATO spokesman said the overall cost of devices lost, damaged, or stolen was very low considering the total number in ATO use.