FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28367, 28 August 1957, Page 8

FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

Magistrate Imposes Fines Of £2OO (New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, August 27. Fines totalling £2OO, with costs, were imposed on Eric Harvey Cleveland, hotel proprietor, of Rotorua, by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court today, when he appeared on four charges of wilfully making false returns of income for the years 1953 to 1956 inclusive. Appearing for the Inland Revenue Department, Mr R. S. Grater said the discrepancy in the returns totalled £2877 12s 9d on which deficient income-tax amounted to £970 4s. The largest amount involved was £2343 8s 7d. which resulted from suppression of receipts. Cleveland had admitted taking cash from the till to cover his day-to-day expenses “In other words,” said the Magistrate, “he didn’t bank the takings, the usual commercial way of dodging.” Mr Grater said that when approached by the income-tax inspectors, Cleveland and his accountant had been very co-opera-tive. Correct double-entry accounts had been compiled, and the accounts were in good order There had been an additional tax assessment in 1952 after a recomputation at that time. After readjustments he had been in credit in 1955.

For Cleveland, Mr J. D. Davys said that on one charge he had been in credit, but the other three were in a different situation. However, Cleveland’s papers and records had been in order. Nothing was hidden, and every assistance was given the inspectors. The Magistrate imposed a £5O fine on each charge. Mr Davys asked whether this applied to the charge in respect to 1955. “Oh, yes,” said the Magistrate. “It’s purely an accident that 1955 happened to be the other way around.”