Self-employed commercial cleaner sentenced for tax evasion
A Tauranga-based self-employed commercial cleaner has been sentenced to 12 months home detention after earlier pleading
guilty to 69 charges of tax evasion involving over $250,000.
Alexanders Blanco Arias was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court today after pleading guilty to knowingly evading
his tax obligations and evading GST and Income Tax.
Group Manager Investigations and Advice, Patrick Goggin said that Arias’ prosecution is a warning to those who
deliberately break the law.
“Arias operated two businesses since 2005, Aspen Cleaning Services 2004 Limited and Aspen Cleaning Services Limited. He
engaged the services of an accountant to file both the companies GST and Income Tax returns and his own personal tax
returns based on the information that he provided,” Mr Goggin said.
During a routine audit in 2013 Inland Revenue also discovered a bank account with around one million dollars of apparent
income deposits in it.
“During this time Mr Arias’s household also received family support credits that it was not entitled to based-on the
incorrect income declared.”
When questioned by Inland Revenue, Arias admitted that he was fully aware of his tax obligations despite deliberately
choosing not to disclose information, as he had a personal debt issue and needed the money to service this.
In total $230,688.05 of core tax has not been paid since 2005 in addition to around $35,000 of family support credits.
“Inland Revenue takes these matters very seriously and we encourage people to come talk to us early when they are
setting up in business. In this case, Arias thought that he could get away with declaring all his income and even set up
another bank account that he did not make his accountant aware of.
“It is very difficult to get away with evading tax, and by talking to us early, we can assist with a payment arrangement
and discuss further options, because simply not paying your fair share is not acceptable.
Mr Arias has entered into a payment arrangement with Inland Revenue to pay the full amount back.” says Mr Goggin.
ENDS