Toronto man fined $15,000 for failing to file GST/HST returns

Toronto, Ontario, October 24, 2012 … The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on October 19, 2012, Alexander Lau of Toronto, Ontario, was fined $15,000 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of failing to file GST/HST returns. He was fined $1,000 for each year he failed to file, totaling $15,000. He has 24 months to pay the fine.

Mr. Lau failed to file GST/HST returns for quarterly periods beginning January 1, 1995, to March 31, 2009. All outstanding returns have since been filed.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

In addition to any 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 website 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.

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