2007 media releases
Tax agent fined $10,000 for refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue
30 March 2007
A Blenheim tax agent was fined $10,000 yesterday in the Blenheim District Court for refusing to supply information to Inland Revenue.
Richard John Cragg, who operates as K & J Consultants Ltd, had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge under the Tax Administration Act. Mr Cragg's company does general accounting work for clients including preparation of annual accounts and the filing of various income tax returns.
The court was told that in 2005 Inland Revenue identified some anomalies in the refund patterns attributable to clients of the company, and began investigating whether clients had actually been charged the full amount of expenses indicated on their returns.
The investigator asked Mr Cragg to supply certain information so the investigation could proceed. There was no response, nor did Mr Cragg respond to subsequent letters.
In February this year, in response to a phone call from the investigator, Mr Cragg said he was simply too busy to comply with the request. Mr Cragg has a previous conviction for the same offence.
Lynley Sutherland, of Inland Revenue, said New Zealand's tax system relies on the honesty and integrity of the professional people working in the system.
"People must supply information when we ask them so Inland Revenue can make sure that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes," said Ms Sutherland, Area Manager Investigations.
For further information contact:
Alison Welch
Senior Media Advisor
029 890 1930
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
- 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
- Prison sentence upholds integrity of tax system, says Inland Revenue
- Early family assistance payments
- Tax payments due on 7 February
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: 03 Apr 2007
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