Welland Car Dealer Convicted Of Tax Evasion
June 30, 2009 11:21 AM
Court Orders $168,950 Fine
Giuseppe Giarratano, owner of Select Auto Sales in Welland, has been fined $168,950 for failing to report and remit Retail Sales Tax (RST) collected by the dealership from its customers between April 2003 and May 2007.
Giarratano pleaded guilty to the charge under the Retail Sales Tax Act on May 15, 2009 in the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines. He was also sentenced to 12 months' probation and 50 hours of community service. Giarratano must also pay a $42,237 surcharge to the Victims' Justice Fund.
QUICK FACTS
- In addition to court-imposed fines and surcharges, businesses convicted of tax offences must repay any taxes owing plus civil negligence penalties and interest, if any.
- Under the Ministry of Revenue's voluntary disclosure program, corporations and individuals may come forward and voluntarily report past violations of provincial tax laws and pay any amounts owing. Prosecution and civil negligence penalties are waived in such cases. To qualify for immunity from prosecution and penalties, a disclosure must be truly voluntary - it cannot be prompted by a request for access to a taxpayer's business records or other ministry enforcement action.
CONTACTS
- Public Inquiries
1 866 668-8297
- Scott Blodgett
Media Inquiries Only
416 325-0324
Ministry of Revenue
ontario.ca/revenue
ontario.ca/revenue
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