A former contractor to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, with immediate release on a recognisance release order conditioned that she be of good behaviour for three years, for defrauding the ATO of more than $105,000 through Operation Protego. The fraudulently obtained funds have since been repaid.
Eva Dierens was based in Maroochydore and worked for the ATO between 2019 and 2021, assisting taxpayers with income tax, business tax, and debt-related matters. Her fraudulent activity occurred after her engagement with the ATO had ended and did not involve ATO systems, nor were any systems compromised. She was later identified as part of the investigation.
ATO Deputy Commissioner Nicholas Shizas said the ATO expects high standards of integrity and accountability from all staff and takes any allegations of fraudulent behaviour or activity by current or former staff extremely seriously.
‘Integrity is at the heart of everything we do. The Australian community expects and deserves the highest standards from the ATO, and we will act decisively when those standards are compromised’, Mr Shizas said.
‘We will not tolerate fraudulent behaviour, and we will continue to protect the integrity of the tax and super systems.’
Between February and April 2022, Ms Dierens provided her personal myGov details to associates who lodged seven false Business Activity Statements (BAS) with the ATO, resulting in refunds totalling $105,000 to which she was not entitled. Dierens admitted she knew the BAS were fraudulent and spent the money on personal items, including clothes, shoes, and a vehicle.
You can confidentially report suspected tax crime or fraud by making a tip-off online or calling 1800 060 062.
For more information about Operation Protego including recent sentencings, visit ato.gov.au/protego.
ENDS
Notes to journalists
-
As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has applied treatment against more than 57,000 alleged offenders. Those involved in this fraud have already been handed in the order of $300 million in penalties and interest.
-
As at 31 October 2025, 144 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.
-
The ATO has finalised 64 investigations and referred 54 briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. The figures do not include investigations into former ATO staff.
-
ATO stock footage and images are available for use in news bulletins from our media centre.
Contact details:
[email protected] | 02 6216 1901