The tax office has hinted movie and television star Paul Hogan paid millions of dollars to end a long-running battle over his tax affairs.
Tax commissioner Chris Jordan told a Senate hearing on Tuesday he didn't want to talk about the Hogan case.
"All I'll say is, in the general comment, if people aren't taken to court and charged it doesn't mean substantial amounts of money weren't paid to settle issues," he said.
"Sometimes substantial amounts, in the tens of millions, are paid, and that covers the liability."
Nationals senator John Williams asked Mr Jordan if that meant he could take it "with confidence" that Hogan and others involved in the case had paid tens of millions of dollars to settle the case.
"I can't talk about specific issues but yes, if we get what we think is the tax due to us, with penalties and interest, we'll settle it," the commissioner said.
Hogan announced in 2012 he had settled the case on a "without admission" basis.
The ATO pursued Hogan for almost a decade alleging he owed $150 million in unpaid tax, penalties and interest, alleging he used offshore tax havens.
No charges were ever brought and Hogan consistently denied any wrongdoing.
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