2009 media releases
Nelson man jailed for tax evasion
3 February 2009
A Nelson man has been jailed for two years and three months on tax fraud charges.
Simon James Moir Hedley, a resource management and coastal marine consultant, was also ordered to pay reparation of $113,113.31 when he appeared in the Nelson District Court today for sentencing.
Hedley had earlier admitted 20 charges of providing false information and making false claims in relation to refunds and tax payments.
Inland Revenue Investigations Manager, Assurance, Lynley Sutherland, said the jail sentence sends a strong message.
"Both Inland Revenue and the courts view tax fraud very seriously."
"Inland Revenue has specialist staff working on uncovering tax evasion and fraud, and those who set out to defraud the system will be caught," Ms Sutherland said.
"People like Hedley are committing a crime that is robbing the community of funds that provide public services such as schools and hospitals."
Hedley registered for GST for in 2003, but investigations into his returns revealed discrepancies in the claims he made.
Despite several requests from Inland Revenue, he failed to produce records to verify all the expenditure claims made in his GST returns.
Instead he presented tax invoices created for fictitious work and correspondence that he had made up to try to support his false claims.
The reparation covers outstanding tax from the fraudulent returns of $52,071.83, as well as penalties and interest of $61,041.48.
For further information:
Catherine Delore
(04) 890 1743
(029) 890 1743
catherine.delore@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Structured finance cases settled
- Inland Revenue warns of party plan pitfalls
- Tax fraudster breached worker trust
- High wealth individuals pay an extra $81 million
- Residential rental property and depreciable items
- Lower Hutt man sentenced for tax evasion
- Two jailed for multi-million dollar tax fraud
- High Court ruling on Westpac case
- Christchurch man jailed for GST fraud
- Tsunami donations tax credits
- Former Queenstown man jailed on tax evasion charges
- Jail for $5 million tax fraud
- Tiler jailed for $1.6 million tax evasion
- Online service makes tax refunds easier
- Inland Revenue welcomes High Court decision
- Auckland property consultant jailed for tax fraud
- Te Kuiti accountant jailed for 12 months for tax evasion
- Property developer sentenced for GST fraud
- Wellington man sentenced for tax fraud
- Man jailed for GST fraud
- Helping you get it right
- Last day for tax returns fast approaching
- Auckland man sentenced on GST fraud charges
- GST fraudster convicted again
- New Plymouth woman jailed for fraud
- Christchurch man sentenced on tax offences
- Extradited tax fraudster sentenced to home detention
- Jail for multimillion dollar tax fraud
- Thousands of people eligible for unclaimed millions
- Inland Revenue appeals High Court decision
- Inland Revenue considers voluntary redundancies
- Talk to us, says Commissioner of Inland Revenue
- Apply now for the provisional tax ratio option
- Keep IRD numbers confidential
- Wellington accountant sentenced on tax fraud charges
- Avoid unexpected GST bills on apartment sales
- Stay informed about KiwiSaver changes
- Tax payment date fast approaching
- Former tax agent employee sentenced for fraud
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: 04 Feb 2009
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