East St. Paul man fined $9,000 for failure to file tax returns

Winnipeg, Manitoba, January 22, 2016... The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that James Ridgway, age 51, of East St. Paul, Manitoba, pleaded guilty to the charge of failure to file personal income tax returns for 2006, 2009, and 2010. Mr. Ridgway also pleaded guilty to the charges of failure to comply with a court order and failure to appear.

The Court fined Mr. Ridgway $3,000 for each of the missing returns, for a total of $9,000. He was also fined $10,000 and sentenced to a jail term of 4 days, with credit for time served, for failing to comply with a court order. For his conviction of failure to appear, Mr. Ridgway was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, in addition to 25 hours of community service, to be served within 8 months.

Mr. Ridgway has 12 months to pay the fines. The Court heard that the outstanding returns have now been filed.

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.

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

Marie Tichborne
A/Manager of Communications
204-983-2336

Date modified:

2016-01-25