Kelowna resident jailed and fined $12,500 for failure to file tax returns

Kelowna, British Columbia, June 1, 2016...The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that for the period January 29, 2016 to May 27, 2016, British Columbia courts assessed a total of $47,500 in fines for individuals who failed to file corporate, personal and/or Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax returns.

The largest court fine was levied to Kelowna resident Michael Bradley Matvieshen. Mr. Matvieshen was sentenced on May 26, 2016, in Kelowna Provincial Court, after being found guilty on five counts of failing to comply with an order to file the corporate tax returns for various tax years for Mill Creek Developments Ltd., 0828119 B.C. Ltd., Kelowna Office Surplus Ltd., 0733982 B.C. LTD., and Marshall Business Center Inc. He was sentenced to one day in jail for each count to be served concurrently. He was also fined $12,500, payable by May 26, 2017.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

When taxpayers are convicted of failing to file tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they must still file the returns and pay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest owed, as well as any civil penalties that may be assessed by the CRA.

If you have ever made a tax mistake or omission, the CRA is offering you a second chance to make things right through its Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP). If you make a valid disclosure before you become aware that the CRA is taking action against you, you may only have to pay the taxes owing plus interest. More information on the 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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For media information

Colette Turgeon
Communications Manager
(604) 666-5487

Date modified:

2016-06-02