2005 media releases
Nine years of tax evasion brings 18 month sentence for New Plymouth bricklayer
6 April 2005
Inland Revenue has welcomed an 18 month prison sentence handed down for tax evasion in the New Plymouth District Court today. David Rowan, a self-employed bricklayer, was convicted on three charges of tax evasion to the value of $59,074.25.
For over nine years, Rowan failed to file any income tax returns, seeking to evade tax by not declaring his income.
"Tax evasion is not a victimless crime - it undercuts honest businesses and disadvantages the wider community. We welcome the tough stance New Zealand's Courts are taking," says Service Centre Manager Kevin Moody.
"Not declaring all your income brings penalties, but these can be greatly reduced if people own up first. All people need to do is contact us and we will work with them to come to an arrangement. Even if someone has ignored their tax obligations for years, it is always better to talk to us first before being found out.
"Those who deliberately flout the law make up a very small minority of taxpayers and we will continue to take a tough approach with these people," Mr Moody adds.
People with concerns about their tax affairs can contact Inland Revenue, either by phoning 0800 377 774 (business customers) or 0800 227 774 (personal customers), or by visiting their local office.
Rowan was also granted leave to apply for home detention.
Other media releases this year
- Tip-off leads to jail sentence for dishonest tax agent
- Family assistance payments to be available early
- Inland Revenue releases new tax rules for people who host boarders
- GST fraud gets jail sentence for Auckland property developer
- Inland Revenue seeks owners of forgotten money
- Family Assistance Payments to be made early
- High Wealth programme brings in millions of extra tax dollars
- Identity theft, fraud lead to jail for Palmerston North man
- Reimbursement for the use of a private motor vehicle
- Hamilton man sentenced on tax fraud
- Auckland consultant gets 12 months in jail for GST fraud
- Inland Revenue signs Hewlett Packard to supply Notebook Computers
- Tauranga man jailed for horticultural tax evasion
- New Zealand and Australian tax help for business
- Salary and wage earners: are you entitled to a tax refund?
- Some seasonal workers entitled to tax refunds
- Auckland barrister jailed for tax evasion
- Inland Revenue reminding Marlborough agriculturalists
- Inland Revenue Appoints Chief Information Officer (IT)
- Incident at Upper Hutt Processing Centre
- Forged GST claim leads to eight-month prison sentence
- Inland Revenue offers help to flood affected BOP businesses
- Auckland Man jailed for tax fraud
- Inland Revenue releases view on HHG capital reduction proposals
- Prison sentence for tax evasion
- Early Family Assistance Payments
- Tax season now underway
- Are you eligible for a childcare rebate?
- Early Family Assistance Payments
- Inland Revenue signs agreement with TelstraClear
- Inland Revenue cautions against income splitting by professionals
- Inland Revenue welcomes sentence for Hamilton PAYE offence
- Cambridge students scoop national award for tax knowledge
- US, NZ agree on tax treatment of fiscally transparent entities
- 7 February payment deadline
- Theft of Westpac courier bag - advice to taxpayers and other Inland Revenue customers
- Inland Revenue not letting up on BoP tax evasion
- Inland Revenue outlines rebate claim process for tsunami donations
- Inland Revenue welcomes sentence in $40,000 evasion case
Corporate Affairs
Inland Revenue
To make a media query:
Phone 04 890 1698 or email mediaqueries@ird.govt.nz
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P O Box 2198
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Date published: 13 Apr 2005
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