Paul Hogan flies, but tax row lingers

Actor Paul Hogan has landed back in Los Angeles, vowing to continue his aggressive fight with Australian tax authorities.

Hogan, who was prevented from leaving Australia for two and a half weeks, said he was keen to see his wife Linda Kozlowski and son Chance at their Malibu home.

The Crocodile Dundee star joked with media crews as he arrived at Sydney Airport on Sunday, complete with a fake moustache and introducing himself to photographers as "Mr Smith".

"I have come to this great tax haven, the USA, where the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) are gentlemen compared to our lot," Hogan told reporters after his Qantas flight touched down at Los Angeles international airport.

While Hogan was in a joking mood, he continued his public blast of Australian tax authorities and described Operation Wickenby as "a huge disaster".

The travel ban placed on the 70-year-old by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) was lifted on Friday afternoon, ending his prolonged stay Down Under following his mother's funeral.

The actor returns home with an alleged multi-million-dollar tax debt, which he says he doesn't owe and cannot pay.

Hogan said Australian tax authorities only let him leave Australia because of the bad publicity the travel restriction created worldwide.

"It was because of the bad publicity around the world," he said.

"It was sort of 'What? You get kept in there (Australia)? Guilty until proven innocent?"'.

- with The Age

- AAP