Paul Hogan, seen in 2001, has been prevented from leaving Australia to return to his home in the U.S. (Alastair Grant/Associated Press)Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan, on a visit home to Australia, has been barred from leaving over a tax dispute.

The 70-year-old actor, filmmaker and celebrity pitchman, who now lives in Los Angeles, had returned to Australia last week to attend his mother's funeral.

On arrival in Sydney, Hogan was presented with a departure-prohibition order that prevents him from leaving until he settles a multimillion-dollar tax bill.

"These may not be the appropriate circumstances to effectively make Paul a prisoner of Australia," Hogan's lawyer, Andrew Robinson, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

He added that the news was "absolutely devastating" for Hogan's wife, fellow Crocodile Dundee star Linda Kozlowski, and the couple's 12-year-old son Chance, both of whom stayed in Los Angeles.

The actor, originally from New South Wales and named Australian of the Year in the mid-1980s, has been in a legal battle with Australian authorities over allegations that he funnelled about $38 million Aus (about $35.6 million Cdn) of his income into offshore accounts. He has yet to be charged with tax evasion.

The investigation was part of a larger, five-year probe into offshore tax havens.

Hogan has consistently denied the claims and disputes the tax bill. Over the years, he has voluntarily returned to Australia on several occasions to be questioned as part of the investigation.

The order barring Hogan from leaving is a rare move, typically used in cases of serious flight risks.

The Australian Tax Office has refused to comment because it does not discuss individual cases.

With files from The Associated Press