One of Australia’s biggest pop exports is making headlines for something a little less chart-topping.
Tones And I – aka Toni Watson – is reportedly being sued by the Australian Taxation Office over an alleged debt of more than $400,000, according to court documents filed in Victoria’s County Court on April 23.
TONES AND I – ‘DANCE WITH ME’
Per reports from The Herald Sun and Channel 7, the ATO is seeking to recover $432,797.27, with the amount tied to “BAS provisions and administrative penalties” – essentially tax obligations like GST and PAYG instalments. The documents also note that interest charges may continue to accrue daily on the outstanding amount. The case reportedly names both Watson and her company, Johnny Run Away Investments (yep, named after the song that started it all).
At the time of writing, there’s been no public response from Watson or her team.
It’s not the first time her business dealings have landed in court, either. Back in 2023, her company was fined $20,000 over unauthorised building works on a Melbourne property, while her husband, Jason Bedford, was also fined over related permit issues.
Of course, this all sits in stark contrast to Watson’s meteoric rise – from Byron Bay busker to global superstar off the back of ‘Dance Monkey’, one of the biggest streaming hits of the decade. Her most recent album Beautifully Ordinary dropped in 2024 and debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts, proving her grip on the Aussie music scene is still very much intact.
For now, all eyes are on how this legal situation plays out – and whether one of Australia’s most successful pop acts can resolve things without missing a beat.
Tones And I will also be hitting the stage next month, as part of Groovin The Moo’s one-off return in Lismore.
Further Reading
Groovin The Moo Reveals Star-Studded Lineup For 2026 One-Off Return In Lismore
Watch Tones And I Play A Surprise Show At Canberra’s Parliament House
triple j’s 100 Best Unearthed Discoveries: The Complete List
