2008 media releases
Agricultural contractor sentenced
2 July 2008
A Whangarei agricultural contractor has been sentenced to ten months' home detention and 100 hours community service for tax fraud.
William Porter, also known as Wiremu Poata, pleaded guilty at the Whangarei District Court to 69 charges relating to GST and PAYE payments totalling more than $275,000.
As well as failing to file GST returns, Porter systematically failed to deduct PAYE from his employees' wages and also did not pass PAYE that was deducted on to Inland Revenue.
The offending lasted for more than six years.
In passing sentence, Judge McDonald took account of Porter's ill health and early guilty plea. The offending could otherwise have attracted a jail term, and fines of more than $1 million.
"This is a good result for Inland Revenue, and for the taxpayer," said Jonathan Matthews, Inland Revenue Area Manager.
"Porter's offending amounted to theft from his community.
"As this and other recent convictions for agricultural contracting fraud makes clear, people will not get away with trying to cheat on their tax obligations."
ENDS
For further information contact:
David Balham
Media Advisor
(04) 890 1743
david.balham@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Inland Revenue proposes changes to company tax return
- Jail for horticultural student
- Tax fraud results in jail term
- 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: 07 Jul 2008
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