Winnipeg realtor fined $10,000 for failure to file tax returns

Winnipeg, Manitoba, November 18, 2015... The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on September 28, 2015, Roberto Victoria, age 62 of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was found guilty at trial of failing to file his personal income tax returns for 2011 and 2012.

Mr. Victoria argued unsuccessfully before the court that the Income Tax Act (ITA) did not define him as a resident of Canada for taxation purposes and that the CRA could not prove that the income tax slips prepared by his employer belonged to him. He also claimed he had lost all of his receipts and had been unable to afford to hire an accountant to file his income tax returns. The Court fined Mr. Victoria $5,000 for each of the missing income tax returns.

The court ordered the missing income tax returns be filed by November 27, 2015. Mr. Victoria has two years to pay the fines.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

When individuals 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.

There are people who promote the idea that individuals can choose to not comply with the Income Tax Act. This information is incorrect. The CRA is concerned that individuals who mistakenly confuse opinions with facts may expose themselves to serious financial and legal problems if they fail to comply with the Income Tax Act and other tax laws. For more information, please see the CRA’s “Debunking Tax Myths” web page, at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/myths/menu-eng.html.

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 be found in the Media Room on the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/convictions.

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For media information

Kevin Lloyd
Manager of Communications
Winnipeg Tax Services Office
204-983-2336

Date modified:

2015-11-19