Former AFL star Dale “Daisy” Thomas is facing legal action from the Australian Taxation Office over an alleged unpaid tax debt of nearly $600,000, according to court documents filed in July 2026. The 258-game veteran, who played for Collingwood and Carlton before transitioning into media work including commentary for Channel 7, stated he was unaware of the lawsuit but remained confident the matter would be resolved.
ATO Lawsuit Details and Alleged Timeline
According to a writ filed with the County Court of Victoria, the Australian Taxation Office is seeking to recoup $599,293 in unpaid taxes, administrative penalties, and interest from Dale Thomas. The legal action, launched on July 23, 2026, alleges that the former player failed to pay tax debts across six financial years. Court documents state that out of the total alleged liability, $94,736 accounts for interest charges and administrative fees.
The court filing breaks down the alleged liabilities year by year, showing a sharp increase following the conclusion of Thomas’s playing career. At the end of the 2019–2020 financial year—which marked his final season with Carlton—the documents allege he owed an outstanding balance of just $89.25. The alleged debt grew in subsequent years:
- 2020–2021: $4,739
- 2021–2022: $64,744
- 2022–2023: $163,849
- 2023–2024: $153,449
- 2024–2025: $194,434
The ATO alleges it received partial payments for the three financial years spanning between June 2019 and June 2022, but recorded no payments for the three years following. Furthermore, the writ claims the tax office issued nine notices regarding the alleged debts starting in May 2022.
Dale Thomas Responds to the Tax Office Claims
Responding to the legal proceedings in an interview with The Herald Sun, Dale Thomas maintained that he had not received formal notification of the lawsuit. “I have not been served anything by the Australian Tax department,” Thomas told The Herald Sun. He added, “I have contacted my accountant and we are going to work through it with the ATO and get it sorted.”
No court hearing dates have been scheduled in the County Court of Victoria as the former premiership player and his representatives begin working through the financial records with tax officials.