2012 media releases
Christchurch bar owner sentenced for tax evasion
28 May 2012
A Christchurch bar owner has been sentenced to 300 hours community work for tax evasion.
Peter Barton Edmonds was sentenced today in the Christchurch District Court after pleading guilty to 41 charges of aiding and abetting two companies to evade paying PAYE and other employee deductions to Inland Revenue. He was charged under the Tax Administration Act.
Group Manager Assurance, Patrick Goggin, said that companies employing staff are required to pay PAYE, Student Loans and KiwiSaver deductions to Inland Revenue by their due dates. However, Edmonds consistently failed to do so in regard to P & F Developments Limited and Disraeli Limited, also known as JDV at the Rock.
"Even though P & F Developments Limited regularly filed its returns for PAYE and Student Loans deductions between 2002 and 2008, it failed to make payments by their due dates totalling just over $550,000. Our tax system relies on people meeting their obligations, and we are continuing our focus on outstanding tax, including PAYE."
"Disraeli Limited also filed its returns for employee deductions between 2005 and 2008. However this company failed to pay just over $78,680 in PAYE, $5,500 in Student Loans deductions, and $755 in KiwiSaver payments during that period."
Both companies were liquidated in 2008.
"Edmonds used the money owed to Inland Revenue to pay his own salary, suppliers, and to keep those companies trading. Nevertheless, as sole director and shareholder, it was his responsibility to ensure they complied with their tax obligations and did not misappropriate employee deductions.
"Inland Revenue encourages owners and managers to contact us immediately if their business is unable to meet any payment obligations. By talking to us early, we can assist with a repayment arrangement," Mr Goggin said.
Edmonds has made repayments although approximately $48,000 of debt is currently outstanding. He also he failed to attend an interview with Inland Revenue officers and did not cooperate when asked for information. As a result, a warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2010.
"Edmonds was not only cheating taxpayers when he misappropriated money owed to Inland Revenue, he was getting an unfair advantage over other businesses and individuals in the hospitality sector that play by the rules," Mr Goggin said.
For further information:
David G. Miller
(04) 890 1743
(029) 890 1743
david.miller@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Court decision supports Inland Revenue's search procedures
- Students heading overseas: talk with Inland Revenue first
- Commissioner’s Statement clarifies tax treatment on accommodation allowances
- Church members sentenced for false rebate claims
- Fitness business operator sentenced for false GST claims
- Inland Revenue welcomes Supreme Court’s latest Trinity decision
- Inland Revenue extends timeframe for Penny and Hooper-equivalent disclosures
- Inland Revenue apologises for releasing customer information
- Inland Revenue website wins 2012 NetGuide Award
- Sentencing a warning to tax cheats
- Warning about hoax phone calls offering tax refunds
- Inland Revenue launches Compliance Focus 2012-13
- Tax advisors sentenced in multi-million dollar tax evasion case
- Phone ID service attracts more than 400,000 people
- Woman jailed for tax fraud
- Deliberate and repeat tax evasion results in prison
- Ex-contractor sentenced to home detention for tax evasion
- Illegal Working for Families Tax Credits claims results in home detention
- Community service after false GST claims
- Inland Revenue releases industry benchmarks
- Student loan, KiwiSaver and Working for Families changes
- Property developer sentenced to home detention for tax evasion
- Repayment deadline for student loan borrowers overseas
- Home detention and reparations for tax evasion
- Prison for tax fraud and evasion
- Inland Revenue clarifies Hanover debt-for-equity swaps
- Blenheim man sentenced to home detention for tax offences
- Community detention for dishonesty and fraud
- A year in prison for tax evasion
- February tax payment reminder
Communications and Inquiry
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: 29 May 2012
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