2005 media releases
Prison sentence for tax evasion
26 April 2005
Palmerston North District Court has reinforced Inland Revenue's firm stance on tax evasion, handing down a prison sentence to a Palmerston North couple found guilty of ignoring their tax obligations for four years.
Barry and Heather Reid were found guilty of knowingly withholding requested information from Inland Revenue, and thereby evading all income tax, GST and PAYE obligations from 2000 to late 2003. The pair were involved in the distribution of vacuum cleaners, operating their business in Wellington then later in Palmerston North.
Barry Reid was found guilty and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, with ability to make application for home detention. Heather Reid was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, deferred until application for home detention is made.
"The sentencing is a great outcome for the community. Tax evasion disadvantages legitimate businesses who do meet their tax obligations," says Wellington Service Centre Manager Bryre Patchell.
"While the vast majority of New Zealanders meet their obligations in full, we will continue to take a firm approach with the small minority who refuse to comply with the law," says Mr Patchell.
Inland Revenue encourages anyone who is concerned their tax affairs may not be in order to contact the department as early as possible.
"There are often penalties for unpaid tax, but these are reduced a great deal if people come to us first," says Mr Patchell.
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
- Early Family Assistance Payments
- Nine years of tax evasion brings 18 month sentence for New Plymouth bricklayer
- 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 Communications
Inland Revenue
For all media enquiries phone: 04 890 1698
For general communications enquiries
Phone: (04) 890 1936
Email: corpcomm@ird.govt.nz
Fax: (04) 498 5809
P O Box 2198
12-22 Hawkestone Street
Wellington
New Zealand
Date published: 26 Apr 2005
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