The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on August 28, 2013, Marc Richard of Timmins, Ontario, pleaded guilty, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Timmins, to12 counts of failing to file personal and corporate tax returns. He was fined $1,000 per count, for a total of $12,000. He has twelve months to pay the fine.
Richard pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to file his 2009 and 2010 personal income tax returns. In addition to not filing his own income tax returns, Richard, as corporate director, also pleaded guilty to not filing corporate returns for Timmins Retirement Homes Ltd from 2007 to 2010, Porcupine Leasing Corporation from 2007 to 2009 and RND Holdings and Property Management Ltd from 2003 to 2005. All outstanding returns have since been filed.
The preceding information was obtained from the court records.
When taxpayers or corporations are convicted of failing to file tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they are still obligated to file the tax return and pay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest, 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 website at www.cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures
