Leave a commentBrampton, Ontario, May 14, 2013… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that on May 10, 2013 John Lassu, of Etobicoke, pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton to two counts of failing to file GST returns. Mr. Lassu was fined $1,000 per count, for a total of $2,000. He has one year to pay the fine.
As a self-employed real estate agent, Mr. Lassu failed to file the 2004 and 2005 GST returns. He filed the outstanding tax returns only after the CRA laid charges.
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.
Further information on convictions can be found in the Media Room on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.