Prison sentence For Prolific Tax Evader

A prolific tax evader who worked in theft prevention has been sentenced to one year and four months after pleading guilty to failing to provide more than 40 GST and income tax returns totalling more than $73,000.

Graeme Alexander Barron was sentenced in Christchurch District Court yesterday after admitting to intentionally not providing 36 GST and six income tax returns.

Acting Group Manager Tony Morris welcomed the sentence and said Barron was a serial tax cheat who was fully aware of his tax obligations but deliberately tried to cheat the system.

“By not paying his fair share of tax over the past 20 years, Barron has persistently denied hard-working New Zealanders money that pays for essential services like our schools and hospitals.

“This is another tax-related conviction for Barron who has been previously prosecuted for similar offences on different occasions,” said Mr Morris.

Barron was made bankrupt by Inland Revenue in 1996 and once discharged, was issued with a new IRD number.

Between 2006 and 2012, Barron provided at least $267,623 worth of services to his clients but despite not registering his stock-control auditor business for GST, he still invoiced his clients for it.

Barron failed to file any income tax or GST returns for this period and avoided paying more than $31,000 of GST and $42,000 of income tax.

“New Zealand trusts taxpayers to do the right thing, and most do,” said Mr Morris. “It is clear however that despite Inland Revenue repeatedly catching and punishing Barron he intentionally chose to ignore the rules.

“Our tax system is one of voluntary compliance and without it the system would be unworkable.

“New Zealanders can be confident that those who deliberately try and cheat, will be caught, and will be punished. This case is another example of how seriously we take this,” said Mr Morris.

Inland Revenue has started bankruptcy proceedings against Barron in respect of his owed debt.

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