Virtical pub group’s alleged tax scam bill could top $50m

Collapsed hospitality empire Virtical owes at least $50 million for fake GST refunds in what could be one of the most brazen alleged tax scams in corporate history, involving hundreds of millions in claimed developments to iconic pubs and hotels that the tax office found never happened.

Tax audits and administrator reports for nine Virtical companies and seen by The Australian Financial Review reveal the Australian Taxation Office has fined the group more than $27 million for intentionally making false GST refund claims and wants to claw back millions more in credits paid.