2005 media releases
Auckland Man jailed for tax fraud
13 May 2005
A 45 year-old Auckland man, who flew to the US to avoid prosecution for tax fraud, has been sentenced in the Auckland High Court today.
David Lawrence Marsters was sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment after pleading guilty to 48 charges under 229A of the Crimes Act 1961. The total fraud amounted to $525,000 and involved false input claims and misuse of documents.
Marsters flew to the US soon after Inland Revenue began investigating his activities in 2001. Inland Revenue applied to have him extradited back to New Zealand to face charges. As a result of this application, the US authorities reviewed his stay in their country and subsequently deported him in May 2004.
On arrival in New Zealand, Marsters was released on bail. However, he failed to appear for his trial on April 5, 2005, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is also facing charges involving a forged New Zealand passport.
Inland Revenue Auckland Service Centre Manager Loraine Elliott says extradition proceedings were sometimes used in cases where people moved offshore to avoid prosecution for tax fraud.
She says that today's prison sentence reflects just how seriously New Zealand Courts view tax fraud.
"Inland Revenue welcomes the sentence which should help deter those contemplating this sort of action. Our job involves protecting the country's revenue from this type of abuse and our investigators are succeeding in catching those who deliberately defraud."
She adds: "Those who deliberately flout the law make up a very small minority of taxpayers and we will continue to take a firm approach with this group."
Anyone concerned that their tax affairs may not be in order should contact Inland Revenue as early as possible. There are often penalties for unpaid tax, but these can be reduced significantly through voluntary compliance.
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
- Inland Revenue releases view on HHG capital reduction proposals
- Prison sentence for tax evasion
- 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 Affairs
Inland Revenue
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Date published: 13 May 2005
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