Don’t let your 15 minutes of fame come through the CRA convictions page!
From CRA’s website:
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) advises the media of cases of people, corporations, and trusts convicted in the courts for tax evasion or for failing to file income tax returns when required. The information released to the media is available to the public since it is derived strictly from court records and not from confidential information held by the CRA.
Why the CRA publishes convictions
The vast majority of Canadians pay their taxes. In fairness to all those law-abiding citizens, the CRA conducts compliance programs to ensure the uniform application of the laws it administers.
The CRA seeks publicity on conviction in the case of tax evasion. It does this to maintain confidence in the integrity of the self-assessment system, and to increase compliance with the law through the deterrent effect of such publicity.
Vancouver resident fined $4,000 for failing to file tax returns
Vancouver, British Columbia, September 4, 2012… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that Vancouver resident, John Norman Hamilton was sentenced in Robson Provincial Court, on August 30, 2012 to four counts of failing to file his 2005 to 2008 personal income tax returns. Hamilton was fined $4,000 ($1,000 per count) and given until January 15, 2013 to pay the fine. Hamilton was also ordered to file the outstanding 2005 to 2011 personal income tax returns by March 1, 2013.
The preceding information was obtained from the court records.
When taxpayers are convicted of failing to file tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they must still file the returns and pay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest owed, as well as any civil penalties that may be assessed by the CRA.
Taxpayers who have not filed returns for previous years, or who have not reported all of their income, can still voluntarily correct their tax affairs. They may not be penalized or prosecuted if they make a valid disclosure before they become aware of any compliance action being initiated by the CRA against them. These taxpayers may only have to pay the taxes owing, plus interest. More information on the Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) can be found on the CRA’s Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures.
Further information on convictions can also be found in the Media room on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.