2005 media releases
Auckland barrister jailed for tax evasion
14 June 2005
A jail sentence imposed on an Auckland barrister and solicitor today sends out a strong message to anyone planning to evade tax, says Inland Revenue Auckland North Service Centre manager, Richard Philp.
As a result of charges laid by Inland Revenue, barrister and solicitor, Kathryn Louise Webber, was jailed for two-and-half years for tax evasion and theft from clients when she appeared in the North Shore District Court today.
She was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to 18 charges of using a document to evade income tax and GST on almost $1.2 million, and seven charges of misappropriating $46,450 from her clients. This followed an Inland Revenue investigation.
Mr Philp says the sentence reflects the severity of the offending. "This was a deliberate attempt to defraud the revenue by someone who holds a position of trust within the community and it is something the courts take seriously," he says.
Inland Revenue has specialist staff working on uncovering tax evasion, says Mr Philp. "People who deliberately flout the law are a small minority of taxpayers. We continue to take a firm approach with this group in fairness to the majority of taxpayers who do the right thing in fully meeting their tax obligations."
Between 1994 and 2004, Kathryn Webber ran a sole legal practice, specialising in property conveyancing, in Albany on Auckland's North Shore. During this time she made a deliberate attempt to defraud both the revenue and her clients.
Inland Revenue's analysis of Kathryn Webber's personal bank accounts revealed unexplained deposits in the period 1997 to 2002 of about $660,000. These sums were derived from her legal practice but were not included in her relevant income tax and GST returns.
Mr Philp says Inland Revenue encourages people who haven't been meeting their tax obligations to get their affairs in order. "For those who do nothing about correcting their situation in the hope that Inland Revenue does not find out about them, the consequences can be extreme, as this case demonstrates."
He says anyone concerned that their tax affairs may not be in order should contact Inland Revenue as early as possible. There are penalties for unpaid tax, but these can be reduced significantly through voluntary disclosure.
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
- 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
- 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: 14 Jun 2005
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