2008 media releases
Tax fraud results in jail term
6 June 2008
The musical director of the Nelson Symphony Orchestra has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of nine charges of dishonestly using documents to fraudulently obtain tax refunds.
David John Lindup received the custodial sentence today in the Nelson District Court after pleading guilty in May.
Lindup is the sole shareholder and director of Lindup Holdings Limited. This company claimed GST refunds relating to the purchase of various stringed musical instrumentals (violins, violas and bows).
The refunds received by Lindup amounted to $866,773.82, none of which has been repaid.
The company did not, however, purchase any musical instruments and, accordingly, was not entitled to any of these refunds.
To support the company's fraudulent claims, and in an attempt to deceive Inland Revenue officers, Lindup provided a large number of fabricated documents. These included five supply agreements, nineteen tax invoices, four import certificates, five bank statements and other false documents such as spreadsheets and summaries of business activities.
Inland Revenue Assurance Manager, Richard Philp, said that this offending was a clear example of a dishonest person falsifying the books and increasing his personal wealth at the expense of honest taxpayers.
"This was a case of Lindup conducting a deliberate fraud that clearly involved a high level of deception."
"This case will anger honest taxpayers. Taxes fund schools, hospitals, roads and other community resources. People who rip off the system are stealing from the community."
Mr Philp said the sentence reflected the importance of the integrity of the system Lindup set out to deceive. "It shows the consequences of being found out and sends a message that fraudsters will be caught and punished."
Ends
For more information:
David Balham
Inland Revenue
(04) 890 1743
029 890 1743
david.balham@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Employers reminded about new tax rates
- Former Inland Revenue employee pleads guilty to corruption
- Sentencing strong message for contractors
- Accountant jailed for defrauding clients and Inland Revenue
- Inland Revenue pilots callback system to help customers
- Inland Revenue proposes changes to company tax return
- Agricultural contractor sentenced
- Jail for horticultural student
- Thousands apply for student loan amnesty
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- Inland Revenue wins People's Choice NetGuide web award for second time
- Waikato couple sentenced for tax evasion
- Inland Revenue warns about income diversion
- Report of investigation of an error in tax revenue numbers
- Tax credits for people made redundant
- R&D tax credit goes live
- Student Loan amnesty - last chance to apply
- Revised financial statements
- Tax advice for investors in failed finance companies
- Tax advice for property investors
- Provisional tax gets easier
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- IRD numbers about to get longer
- Tax authorities work together to stop international tax evasion
- Inland Revenue helps drought-affected farmers
- IRD numbers available at NZ Post and AA
- Inland Revenue warns against divulging personal details
- Second jail term for major tax scam
- Welcome surprise for owners of forgotten money
- End-of-year tax date fast approaching
- Time running out for student loan amnesty
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: 06 Jun 2008
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