NELSON WOMAN FINED FOR MAKING FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1949, Page 4

NELSON WOMAN FINED FOR MAKING FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

P.A. NELSON, February 18. Fines totalling £7O, with costs were imposed by the Magistrate, Mr Maunsell, on Mary E. Naylor on six charges of wilfully making false returns of income, covering the years from 1943 to 1948.

The Magistrate' said he had reserved his decision to determine whether there was any reasonable doubt in his mind as to whether the defendant’s actions in forwarding false income tax returns was intentional, or was purely due to lack of knowledge of accountancy. He regretted that he was unable to see any doubt. For the years 1938 to 1947 inclusive, she had been returning considerably less than she had earned, and the discrepancy was too great as to point conclusively, to wilfulness. The amount returned, he said, was £1607, and her actual net receipts were £8961. He found it very difficult to believe that she had thought she had the right to make a present every year to her daughter, of up to £5OO, and to have failed to disclose such gifts in her returns. The first time she had made this explanation was in court. She had refused to give the tax officer information he had asked for, which was incompatible with her defence. Convictions would be recorded.