$10,000 in Fines for Failing to File Tax Returns

SUDBURY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 15, 2013) - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on May 13, 2013, Corinne Desjardins and Brian Desjardins, of Sudbury, Ontario, pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury, to a total of 10 counts for failing to file tax returns. They were fined a total of $10,000. When taxpayers or corporations are convicted of failing to file tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they are still obligated to file the outstanding tax returns and pay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest, as well as any civil penalties that may be assessed by the CRA.

Brian Desjardins and Corinne Desjardins were each fined $3,000 for failing to file their 2008 to 2010 personal income tax returns.

As director of Desjardins Communications Ltd., Corinne Desjardins was fined $3,000 for failing to file corporate income tax returns for the years 2008 to 2010. She was also fined an additional $1,000 for failing to file quarterly GST returns for the periods ending December 2010 and March, June and September of 2011.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

Taxpayers who have not filed returns for previous years, or who have not reported all of their income, can still voluntarily correct their tax affairs. They may not be penalized or prosecuted if they make a valid disclosure before they become aware of any compliance action being initiated by the CRA against them. These taxpayers may only have to pay the taxes owing, plus interest. More information on the Voluntary Disclosures Program (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.