<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian"><span>Australian</span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tax" rel="" target="_blank" title="Tax"><span>Tax</span></a><span> Office (ATO) is cracking down on tax dodgers fleeing Australia as it looks to rein in a massive </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/money" rel="" target="_blank" title="debt"><span>debt</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The collectable debt book </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance" rel="" target="_blank" title="bill"><span>bill</span></a><span> has blown out to $50 billion, with the ATO looking to crack down on people seeking to flee the country or go on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world" rel="" target="_blank" title="overseas"><span>overseas</span></a><span> holidays rather than paying the tax they owe or </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/superannuation" rel="" target="_blank" title="superannuation"><span>superannuation</span></a><span> to their </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/employment/2" rel="" target="_blank" title="employees"><span>employees</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a result, the ATO is issuing departure prohibition orders (DPO) against people it believes are attempting to avoid paying their debts.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cataract-crash-six-people-rushed-to-hospital-after-crash-between-truck-and-multiple-cars-nsw/35d6dce7-315c-42a4-aa97-c22a41d1b894" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Six people rushed to hospital after crash between truck and multiple cars</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to recent data, the ATO has issued 21 DPOs, which is more than the total number issued in the last financial year as a whole.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some are issued in the nick of time, with one person barred from boarding a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/air-travel" rel="" target="_blank" title="flight"><span>flight</span></a><span> in the early hours of the morning thanks to a DPO.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Taxpayers with significant debts to the ATO that think they can skip the country without paying what is owed to the community should think again," ATO Assistant Commissioner Anita Challen said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-tax-dodgers-banned-leaving-country-ato/f2111b7d-48f5-497a-bae8-3abb35e01bbd" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We think most Australians would expect </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/business" rel="" target="_blank" title="businesses"><span>businesses</span></a><span> to pay their employees' superannuation before they plan an overseas holiday"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-fastest-growing-jobs-revealed-ai/6d1bee9f-fd9e-4b68-a0c3-5f2c8a086f4a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>AI dominates as Australia's fastest-growing jobs revealed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other illegal measures the ATO is looking to stamp out include businesses taxing taxes from employees or GST from customers, but not passing it onto the government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>DPOs are seen as a last resort, as the ATO has less power to enforce other restrictions if the person is not in Australia at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Challen insisted all Australians should heed the warning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you have a significant debt with the ATO and we've issued you with a DPO, you'll need to pay or make satisfactory arrangements to pay before planning your overseas travel," she said</span><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div 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