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7-Eleven denies tax evasion claims

Sarah Stowe

Franchised convenience chain 7-Eleven has denied claims by New South Wales Labor that it has not paid payroll tax for the last three years. 

According to a report by Inside Retail, Labor’s Daniel Mookhey said the freedom of information documents showed 7-Eleven had paid no payroll tax in at least the last three financial years.

“7-Eleven engaged in the biggest wage-theft scandal in Australian history, it hasn’t paid a single cent in payroll tax in New South Wales, and the state government’s response is to do nothing,” said Mookhey.

A 7-Eleven spokesman states that claim it had not paid relevant payroll tax obligations was “categorically untrue”.

However, a New South Wales Office of State Revenue (OSR) spokeswoman said a co-ordinated investigation was launched in October last year on behalf of all affected jurisdictions into 7-Eleven’s payroll tax obligations. The investigation was being led by the Victorian State Revenue Office, which was liaising with the New South Wales OSR.

“Where a business fails to register or is found to have understated their payroll tax liability, OSR will issue an assessment that includes the unpaid amount plus interest and penalties where relevant,” she said.

This development comes as the convenience chain proposed changes for franchise reform after systematic reports of underpayment across the network