2009 media releases

Auckland man sentenced on GST fraud charges
3 June 2009

An Auckland man has received 12 months home detention for filing false GST returns and claiming refunds of over $100,000.

Derek Hugh Perry was sentenced today in the Manukau District Court after earlier admitting 22 charges of GST fraud.

The offending took place between May 2005 and May 2007, when Perry was living in Taupo.

Inland Revenue Manager Assurance, Investigations, Richard Philp, said the sentence should remind people that GST fraud is not a victimless crime.

"Mr Perry stole money which should have gone towards community services like schools, hospitals and policing. His actions amounted to defrauding every honest taxpayer in the country."

Perry committed the fraud as sole director and shareholder of two companies. Derek Perry & Associates Limited was originally established to invest in residential property in Taupo. Aunty Ruth’s Tomato Sauce Company Limited intended to manufacture tomato sauce from a family recipe.

Neither company got off the ground. After the initial set-up phase, they ceased operating. However, Perry continued to file GST returns and claim refunds.

Derek Perry & Associates filed 13 false returns, claiming refunds totalling $57,960. Aunty Ruth’s Tomato Sauce Company filed nine returns, and claimed refunds of $44,241. The total fraud amounted to $102,202.

Perry was ordered to pay reparation of $92,326 which was the amount he actually received in GST refunds.

Perry said ill health meant he was unable to continue running his businesses. He is currently on an invalid’s benefit.

For further information:
Catherine Delore
(04) 890 1743
(029) 890 1743
catherine.delore@ird.govt.nz

Other media releases this year

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• Two jailed for multi-million dollar tax fraud
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• Christchurch man jailed for GST fraud
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• Former Queenstown man jailed on tax evasion charges
• Jail for $5 million tax fraud
• Tiler jailed for $1.6 million tax evasion
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• 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
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• Last day for tax returns fast approaching
• 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
• Nelson man jailed for tax evasion
• Stay informed about KiwiSaver changes
• Tax payment date fast approaching
• Former tax agent employee sentenced for fraud

more media releases ›

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: 03 Jun 2009

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