A lawyer for an accountant based in the Channel Islands has told a Brisbane court his client should not be made a scapegoat for people who seek to avoid paying tax.

Philip Eric de Figueiredo, 60, was extradited to Australia in 2010 to face three counts of conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth.

He has pleaded guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Alan MacSporran told the court de Figueiredo helped set up a complex tax avoidance scheme operated by Swiss accountancy firm Strachans.

He was targeted by the Australian Tax Office's Operation Wickenby and accused of helping his clients, including music entrepreneur Glenn Wheatley, to avoid paying more than $4 million in tax.

But Philip Dunn QC for de Figueiredo says his client, who is a resident of the Channel Islands off France, should not be a scapegoat for overseas tax evasion scams.

Mr Dunn says he accepts that he will have to spend some time in jail.

Justice Debra Mullins will hand down a sentence tomorrow.