Richmond Hill resident fined for not filing GST/HST returns

Newmarket, Ontario, May 11, 2013… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on April 25, 2013, David Keefe, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, pleaded guilty in Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, Ontario, to three counts of failing to file GST/HST returns. Mr. Keefe, carrying on business as GTA Duradek, a decking construction company, failed to file GST/HST returns for November 28, 2000 to December 31, 2002. The court imposed a fine of $1,000 per count, for a total of $3,000. He has twelve months to pay the fine and all outstanding returns have since been filed.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

When individuals 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.

Further information on convictions can be found in the Media Room on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.

Canada Revenue Agency

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