Accountant who refused to pay wages barred by tax watchdog

Exclusive: A rogue accountant boss who treated workers like modern-day slaves by refusing to pay them any wages has been barred by the taxation regulator following an A Current Affair investigation.

Parampreet Singh Rajput, who instead ordered some workers to pay him the "costs" of employing them, has been stripped of his tax agent registration.

In July and August last year, A Current Affair detailed damning allegations about the owner of the KPG Taxation empire, prompting an investigation by the Tax Practitioners Board.

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A Current Affair previously revealed Rajput did not pay one of his workers, Gagandeep Kaur, a cent during several months of her employment, prompting her to take him to the Federal Circuit and Family Court.

Following a damning ruling in January 2025, other women, who also worked for the same accounting firm, alleged they also had to pay their wages back or face losing their sponsorship in Australia.

Kaur, who moved to Australia in 2009, graduated as an accountant in Melbourne and scored a dream job with Rajput's firm, which sponsored her visa.

After she questioned why she had not been paid, she was ordered to pay her wage to her boss first, before he would transfer the money back to her, effectively funding her own wages for a number of months in 2019 – while it appeared as though she was being legitimately paid.

Following an investigation, the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) terminated Rajput's tax agent registration and that of his companies because he "ceased to meet the tax practitioner registration requirement that he be a fit and proper person".

The board found he breached the professional code of conduct by "instructing (an) employee make payment to him for her full wages and her superannuation" and he also engaged in tax evasion.

"He deliberately made false statements to the Commissioner of Taxation by lodging incorrect returns and statements," the board said in a statement.

"He engaged in conduct, including 'kickback payment' arrangements which were televised by the A Current Affair program, which undermined public trust and discredited the integrity of the tax profession.

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"The conduct was neither isolated nor anomalous.

"The TPB also noted that given his extensive experience in providing tax services, it was reasonable to expect compliance with his own tax obligations.

"Instead, Mr Rajput demonstrated deliberate behaviour aimed at minimising his tax obligations."

Rajput and his companies are not eligible to apply for re-registration until 2030.

He is appealing the TPB's decision with the Administrative Reviews Tribunal.

On 27 March this year, the Federal Circuit and Family Court ordered Rajput and his company pay penalties and compensation of more than $230,000 for failing to pay Gagandeep Kaur.

She told A Current Affair she was relieved by the decision and the TPB's action.

"I am proud and grateful to say that justice has finally been served," she said.

"The journey was incredibly difficult.

"My family and I went through a lot.

"My boss put immense pressure on me to withdraw the case.

"I chose to stand not only for myself, but for everyone who has suffered in silence."

Do you know more? Contact reporter Sam Cucchiara at scucchiara@nine.com.au.