Mississauga woman fined for failing to file tax returns

Brampton, Ontario, October 28, 2013... The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on October 23, 2013, Marilou Parcero, of Mississauga, pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton to six counts of failing to file tax returns. Ms. Parcero was fined $1,000 per count, for a total of $6,000, and was given three months to pay the fine. She was also given six months to file all outstanding tax returns.

Ms. Parcero, a management consultant, failed to file her 1999 to 2008 personal income tax returns. The CRA made several requests for the missing returns before serving Ms. Parcero with notices demanding that the returns be filed. Failure to comply with these notices resulted in charges being laid.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

In addition to the fines imposed by the courts, individuals or corporations convicted of failing to file tax returns are still obligated to file the tax returns 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 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.

Canada Revenue Agency

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