Tax debts drive record level of calls to financial helplines, as ATO denies ‘heavy-handed’ methods

Financial counsellors are calling on the tax office to give small businesses and individuals more time to pay tax debts, as the level of money owed sees calls to the debt helplines hit unprecedented levels.

More than 65 per cent, or $36.6 billion, of the $55.9 billion in total debt owed to the…