Australia demands A$892 million from Li Ka-shing firms in unpaid taxes
One company involved vows 'vigorous challenge' to claim; judge slams 'questionable practices'
The Australian government is expected to take tougher tax measures against Li Ka-shing's companies after demanding A$892 million (HK$6.5 billion) from them - but Asia's richest man is fighting back.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is seeking A$116 million in unpaid taxes from Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI), a Hong Kong-listed infrastructure firm controlled by Li, reported yesterday.
This is on top of A$380 million that CKI has been asked to pay the tax office, also for unpaid taxes and penalties, and A$396 million that Li's Hong Kong-listed Power Assets Holdings has to pay the tax office, according to recent judgments.
A tax office spokeswoman declined to comment on Li's companies but told the : "The tax practices of multinationals is an area we are actively focusing on."
An equity analyst who did not want to be identified said: "The Australian government in future may take a harsh line on tax evasion towards companies like CKI. It may want to close the tax loopholes."
On March 14, Chris Jordan, who was appointed Australian Taxation Commissioner on January 1, said the tax office would take a more active stand against tax evasion by multinationals. He said: "I want businesses to clearly know if they choose questionable or very aggressive [tax] practices, there will be consequences."
On the A$380 million demanded in the Australian judgment, a CKI spokeswoman said: "CKI has obtained legal advice and intends to vigorously challenge the ATO position." She did not comment on the additional A$116 million demand.
According to court documents, CKI did not pay Australian taxes, or penalties for unpaid taxes, from 2000 to 2009. CKI's failure to respond prompted a judge to issue a default judgment against the firm.
"The entering of judgment in default against a party for non-compliance with orders is a step of the utmost seriousness," said Justice Michelle Gordon.
"CKI has not only failed to comply with an order of the court, but an order that reinforced an important rule that a respondent who has been served with an originating application must file a notice of address for service.
"CKI's failure to take that step is continuing and occasioning unnecessary delay and prejudice to the [taxation] commissioner. It is appropriate to enter judgment in default against CKI," she said.
The A$496 million of taxes demanded of CKI was 38.5 per cent of its net profit of HK$9.43 billion last year, while the A$396 million demanded of Power Assets was 29.8 per cent of the latter's net profit of HK$9.73 billion.
The share price of CKI fell 1.1 per cent to HK$54.30 yesterday, while the share price of Power Assets dropped 0.2 per cent to HK$67.90.
Shares in Cheung Kong (Holdings), Li's Hong Kong-listed conglomerate, dropped 1.4 per cent to HK$123.20.
