Tim Loh, the ATO’s LinkedIn and TV star, steps out of spokesperson role as tax time winds down

The public face of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is stepping out of the media spotlight for another year, after emphasising the human element of revenue collection duties and carving out his own niche as a business community influencer.

On Thursday, ATO assistant commissioner Tim Loh announced his most high-profile public duties will slow down as the mid-year tax return rush draws to a conclusion.

Loh has been an upbeat fixture on the morning news circuit for much of the past year, mixing news of the ATO’s collection priorities and personable banter with seasoned television hosts.

Repeat appearances across shows like Channel 7’s Sunrise, Channel 9’s The Today Show, and ABC’s News Breakfast have expressed the tax office’s focus on everything from changing work-from-home deductions, to the risk of filing a tax return too early.