Paul Hogan, the star of Crocodile Dundee, believes he has 
been overtaxed in Australia and asserts he is being subjected to a witch-hunt.
been overtaxed in Australia and asserts he is being subjected to a witch-hunt.“Should I be a tax evader, which I am not, it would mean I am the most foolish one alive,” Hogan stated yesterday.
“Rather than escaping to a tax haven, I returned to the USA, consistently coming back to this country.”
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is pursuing Hogan for an alleged multi-million dollar tax debt.
Following the funeral of his mother, he was issued a departure prohibition order in mid-August and is now restricted from leaving Australia until the debt is resolved.
At 70 years old, Hogan, who resides with his wife Linda Kozlowski and their son Chance, finds it absurd that officials suspect he may flee.
“Am I considered a flight risk?…That notion is utterly ridiculous,” he said.
Since the investigation started seven years ago, Hogan has consistently declared his innocence.
He refutes claims of underpaying taxes in Australia.
“I’ve actually paid too much,” he insisted.
“More than what a prudent businessman would. While paying taxes in Australia, I might have passed by David Jones, but I couldn’t confirm because I never kept track of finances. I’ve never done that, nor is it necessary…hiring others to manage that is what one does.”
On Tuesday, Hogan recounted that when he moved to the USA in the late 1980s, his tax advisors inquired whether he preferred to pay taxes in Australia or his new home country.
“I chose Australia because that’s my origin, and all my children are there. Paying taxes in Australia was my preference,” he remarked.
“This was the sole occasion I engaged in extensive tax discussions and followed any tax instructions.”
“For the subsequent seven years, I ensured to pay my taxes back home.”
He mentioned that US authorities mandated he be taxed in the United States.
“As a result, I became a US resident for tax purposes,” Hogan explained.
