PwC lost track of number of client privilege claims allegedly used to stymie ATO investigations

A review of PwC’s internal governance conducted by former ATO second commissioner Bruce Quigley, described the firm’s use of privilege as ‘an issue of tension with the ATO in recent times’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

PwC Australia lost track of who prepared dozens of client privilege claims that blocked the Australian Tax Office from gathering evidence for its investigations, a Senate inquiry has heard.

Earlier this week, the ATO published a timeline of the PwC scandal that confirmed years of frustration at the firm over allegedly withholding information related to multinational tax avoidance.