It was just word of mouth, hence it been a rumour. i.e. Joe Blogs over there uses promissory notes to pay his mortgage, blah blah.
Any update on this? It seems like every year the government and ATO become more and more intrusive into the lives of individuals and small business. They want their pound of flesh and there are few avenues of escape.
I'm guessing the illegality is more about attempting to exit society entirely by "going bush" which was the earlier comment. There are so many laws and regulations that apply to everything.
Couldn't you just pay up anything owing, and then just tell the tax department you will no longer be filing a tax return next year? Heck, can you even get your tax file number removed I wonder? As long as you earn no income that is taxable (above the tax free 18,200 threshold actually) the government surely have no right to chase you for anything? I see nothing "illegal" in choosing to not earn any more income and no longer filling in a tax return. They even have a checklist for it: https://expertsystems.ato.gov.au/sc...nchor=DoINeedToLodge/2015#DoINeedToLodge/2015 If you own land and live off it, and don't earn over $18k or have business etc then you shouldn't have to file a tax return any more. Off the grid you go. Only one who might chase you is the local council for your rates or whatever.
Local land tax does not apply to your principle place of residence, or under the tax free threshold. Rates on the other hand are likely still payable, take the Blue Mountains for example: http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcouncil/rates/whatarerates Even if you tell them to disconnect services (sewage, water, power), I think you are still liable. But overall, it's entirely legal to earn up to $18k per year and never fill in tax return return again, and if pay your local council rates then you can remove yourself from the federal tax system without any issue. This couple is refusing to pay council rates: http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/man-dorrigo-not-paying-rates-high-court/535267/
It's not that easy. Even the tax havens are "low tax" not "no tax". And once your money is overseas you need a way to spend it their or somehow get it back without paying tax here (that's really hard legally).
It's not that difficult: the overseas company loans the money to you in Australia and you just never pay it back (or you pay the interest only and, claim a tax deduction from the ATO on the interest, and then loan it back again).
i think the ato already cracked down that already otherwise why would GOOGLE, EBAY etc comply with ATo.. (what was read on the news)