NO INCOME TAX RETURNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20009, 7 August 1939, Page 4

NO INCOME TAX RETURNS

PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS MINIMUM FINES IMPOSED PENALTIES TOTAL Clo/0/Failure to make returns under the Land and La,come Tax Act and the Employment Promotion Act cost Francis Norcott Horniforook £l9 6s in fines, costs and solicitor's fees when the charges against him were brought before 'Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Gisborne Magistrate's Court to-day. There were four charges of failing to furnish returns under the Land and Income Tax Act for the years 1935 to 1938 inclusive, while there were two charges of failing to provide returns under the Employment Promotion Act. Mr. L. T. Burnard pleaded guilty on behalf of the defendant to all the charges.

■Mr. F. W. Nolan, appearing for the Crown Law Office, stated that the defendant was aware of his obligations, as the matter was the subject of correspondence with the department. It would appear that in April, 1938, the defendant gav.e some particulars to an accountant to have relums.'madeV.'tout the particulars given were insufficient. Beyond a letter stating that the matter had been put into the accountant's hands, nothing had been ’dene. The Act provided for a penalty of not less than £2. Case for the Defence Mr. Burnard said that the defendant's records were placed in the hands of an accountant, who, however, retired from practice about a year ago without doing the work. The defendant received notices from the department, and took them to the accountant, who stated that the returns were being attended to. The defendant thought that there was some dispute between the accountant and the department, and did not 'worry when he received the notices. The defendant had now to pay a higher tax than he would have had to pay otherwise, and counsel asked His Worship to take that fact into consideration.

In regard to the charges under the Employment Promotion Act, Mr. Nolan said that the circumstances were similar. Earlier instalments had been paid after some pressure from the department. On each charge of failing to furnish income tax returns, the defendant was fined £2 and costs 10s, with a solicitor's fee of £2 2s on the first charge and a fee of 10s 6d on each of the subsequent charges. On each of the two charges under the Employment Promotion Act, the defendant was fined £1 and costs 10s, with a solicitor’s fee of £2 2s on the first charge and 10s 6d on the other.