2007 media releases
Two years' prison for 146 tax offences
15 February 2007
Two years' prison for 146 tax offences
Inland Revenue today welcomed the 25-month prison sentence imposed on a man who cheated on his GST returns to the tune of $250,000 over a four-year period.
Timothy Selwyn, aged 32, of Grey Lynn, Auckland, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court after earlier pleading guilty to 146 charges of using a document with intent to defraud. The offences took place from late 1996 to early 2000.
The court had earlier heard that Selwyn set up and registered for GST three companies and an incorporated society, to engage in research, education and publishing. Inland Revenue told the court that Selwyn didn't produce any evidence that the entities ever traded, but they subsequently claimed regular monthly GST refunds, to a total of $246,660.70
After the sentencing, Tracey Lloyd, of Inland Revenue said the prison term reflects the importance the Courts place on the integrity of the system Mr Selwyn set out to deceive.
"It gives a strong message to those who deliberately attempt to defraud the revenue and shows the consequences of being found out. It also sends a message to people in the community that fraudsters will be caught and the Courts will deal severely with them," said Ms Lloyd, Area Manager Investigations.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Alison Welch
Acting Senior Media Advisor
890 1698
027 243 6970
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
- Refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue lands couple in court
- Prison sentence upholds integrity of tax system, says Inland Revenue
- 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: 16 Feb 2007
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