SA man jailed over $1.4m tax fraud

A South Australian man has been jailed after trying to fraudulently claim tax refunds of almost $1.5 million.

The Australian Taxation Office said Adam Hamshere, 39, used his accounting knowledge to set up a fake business claiming he sold cigars.

In March 2016, he lodged five business activity statements claiming he was entitled to GST and Wine Equalisation Tax refunds of $1,444,069.

After an ATO investigation and audit, Hamshere was charged with multiple counts of attempting to dishonestly claim a financial advantage.

On Wednesday he was jailed for two years and four months in SA's District Court.

The ATO described Hamshere's offending as brazen after he rang its offices more than a dozen times asking for his refund.

It said he also claimed the paper and electronic records of his business activity had been stolen.

Acting ATO Assistant Commissioner David Mendoza said the strong sentence was a fitting result for such an audacious attempt to cheat the tax system.

"Those people who try to evade or cheat the tax and super system will get caught and we will take firm action. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour," he said.