2007 media releases
Prison sentence upholds integrity of tax system, says Inland Revenue
23 January 2007
People working in the tax system who try to cheat must expect to be dealt with severely by the courts, Inland Revenue said today after an accountant was sentenced to four months imprisonment for fraud.
The tax system relies on honesty and ethical behaviour from both taxpayers and from the professional people working as tax agents and accountants. The prison term imposed today sends a strong message that abusing the trust of clients to defraud the tax system is unacceptable.
Accountant Henry Ropati was sentenced in the Waitakere District Court today (January 23) after earlier pleading guilty to four charges under the Crimes Act of using a document with intent to defraud. Mr Ropati had filed false tax returns, claiming false tax refunds for his own benefit, and claiming clients' losses as his own.
Tracey Lloyd, of Inland Revenue, said Mr Ropati was in a position of trust as a professional accountant and had breached the trust that his clients put in him.
"The sentence signals to the community that tax fraudsters will be caught and the Courts will deal severely with them, especially where there is a breach of trust", said Ms Lloyd, Area Manager, Investigations.
The judge said defrauding the revenue was not a victimless crime. She gave Mr Ropati leave to apply for home detention.
For further information contact:
Alison Welch
Senior Media Advisor (acting)
Inland Revenue
Phone (04) 890 1698
Alison.welch@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Draft guidelines released for new R&D tax credit
- Man extradited from Australia to face tax charges
- Working for Families Tax Credits to be made early
- Inland Revenue alerts tax professionals
- 'Money man' behind major tax scam jailed
- Third conviction in Rawleigh tax evasion case
- Samoan chief receives two years' home detention
- Early working for families tax credits scheduled
- Cash businesses are in the spotlight
- Inland Revenue transfers first KiwiSaver funds to scheme providers
- Late filers advised to contact Inland Revenue
- Wellington Inland Revenue staff to centralise
- Christchurch businessman fined $20,000 on tax charges
- Hamilton JP jailed for two years for $1.1 million tax evasion
- Businessman pleads guilty to $1.3 million in tax charges
- Jail term extended for Tauranga tax evader
- Inland Revenue offers Language Line
- Inland Revenue wins prestigious IT award
- Inland Revenue simplifies tax with Business Is Booming
- Inland Revenue reassures people affected by weather
- Customers urged to contact Inland Revenue
- Inland Revenue issues GST statement on unconditional property sale agreements
- KiwiSaver information readily available from Inland Revenue
- Scott Anderson bankrupted for unpaid debt of $13 million
- Inland Revenue welcomes 'Trinity' court ruling
- Christchurch tourism operators' concern leads to community service for tax evader
- Inland Revenue welcomes prison sentence for GST fraud
- Levin man sent to jail over $45,000 in GST fraud
- Businessman who "undercut the opposition" jailed for tax fraud
- Accountant's low profits prompted tax audit
- "Not a lot" of effort to pay taxes results in jail term for tax evasion
- Tiler in court for keeping staff tax payments
- Northland flood victims should call if having problems with tax payments
- Tax agent fined $10,000 for refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- Nelson man in court for not passing on employees' tax payments
- Tax season underway
- Businesses foolish to try to suppress details of income
- Dairy owner in court for cheating on taxes over seven years
- Two years' prison for 146 tax offences
- Refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue lands couple in court
- Early family assistance payments
- Tax payments due on 7 February
Communications and Inquiry
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: 26 Jan 2007
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