2006 media releases
Tauranga contractor jailed for tax offences
10 May 2006
A Tauranga horticultural contractor was sentenced today in the Tauranga District Court to three years and two months in prison for evading tax of more than $650,000.
Balwinder Singh pleaded guilty to 14 charges of filing false tax returns, and 14 other charges related to document and identity fraud. Between May 2003 and July 2005, Mr Singh, using forged papers, set up a number of companies in an attempt to hide taxable income from Inland Revenue.
Mr Singh was carrying five false IDs when he was arrested.
Inland Revenue Service Centre Manager Kevin Moody said the prison sentence showed the courts still considered tax evasion a serious offence. "Taxes help pay for important services like hospitals and schools. Someone evading tax isn't just cheating Inland Revenue; they're short-changing the whole community.
"I hope this conviction will deter other contractors who may be thinking about trying to evade their tax obligations. We've had a lot of feedback from industry representatives who appreciate our efforts to 'clean up' the industry and make life easier for the legitimate contractors."
The Government recently changed the withholding tax regulations to help reduce tax evasion in the fruit and wine growing industries. If a contractor is hired for certain horticultural or viticultural tasks, the employer must deduct withholding tax from payments to the contractor - even if the contractor is trading as a company.
"A contractor with a good record of filing returns and paying tax is not disadvantaged," said Mr Moody. "They can apply for a certificate of exemption or a special tax code certificate that will exempt them from withholding tax deductions, or entitle them to a reduced rate."
Other media releases this year
- It's IR 3 time - for many of us
- Owner of chain of rest homes get 21-month prison term for million dollar tax evasion
- Family assistance payments to be made early
- Inland Revenue welcomes tough sentence on tax fraudster
- False identity charges lead to jail term for Christchurch woman
- PAYE evasion leads to jail term
- Family assistance payments to be made early
- Inland Revenue welcomes Govt3 award wins
- PAYE Subsidy available for employers
- One month left to seek penalty cancellations
- Christchurch painter jailed on tax charges
- Inland Revenue can offer help to weather-affected businesses
- Prison for Tauranga contractor on tax fraud charges
- Inland Revenue confirms stand on depreciation
- Family Assistance payments to be made early
- Tax discount for new businesses
- Inland Revenue revises rules on shortfall penalty application
- Inland Revenue Flood Support
- Family Assistance to be paid early
- Inland Revenue website wins People's Choice award
- Tax due date coming up on 7 February
- Family assistance payments to be made early
Corporate Affairs
Inland Revenue
To make a media query:
Phone 04 890 1698 or email mediaqueries@ird.govt.nz
Please note, the email address is only for enquiries from the news media. It is monitored during normal business hours 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
P O Box 2198
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Date published: 10 May 2006
Back to top