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Taxpayer fined for incorrect tax return

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A taxpayer was fined $54,650 at the Kwun Tong Magistracy today (July 30) after pleading guilty to charges of making incorrect tax returns.

The defendant was charged with filing incorrect tax returns for the years of assessment 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 by making incorrect statements in connection with the claim for dependent parent allowance. This was contrary to section 80(2)(b) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO).

She declared that in each of the two years of assessment, she had contributed $12,000 or more towards the maintenance of a dependant. The Inland Revenue Department later found that the dependant passed away on March 15, 2002.

A spokesman for the Inland Revenue Department reminded the public that making an incorrect statement in connection with a claim for any deduction or allowance without a reasonable excuse was an offence under the IRO. The maximum penalty is a fine of $10,000 and a further fine of triple the amount of tax undercharged. If fraud is involved, the offender is liable to the same fines and imprisonment for three years.

Ends/Wednesday, July 30, 2008

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