Barrie Land Surveyor Pleads Guilty to Income Tax and GST Evasion

BARRIE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 18, 2011) - The Canada Revenue Agency announced on March 17, 2011, that Richard Robert Anthony Krupowicz, of Barrie, pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie to one count of income tax evasion, and two counts of Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion.

Krupowicz, a land surveyor, operated as a sole proprietorship known as R.R. Krupowicz. He provided land surveyor services for commercial, industrial, residential, and rural clients. A Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) investigation determined that Krupowicz under-reported his business income by $301,350 on his 2002 to 2006 personal income tax returns. In doing so, he evaded the payment of $65,366 in federal income tax.

The investigation further determined that although Krupowicz issued invoices to clients including charges for GST, he failed to remit $25,695 in GST for the periods ending March 2002 to December 2006, with the exception of one filing period ending March 31, 2003. In addition, Krupowicz evaded $2,801 in GST by failing to file a GST return for the period ending September 20, 2006.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

When individuals are convicted of income tax and GST evasion, they must still repay the full amount of taxes owing, plus interest and any civil penalties that may be assessed by the CRA. In addition, the court may fine them up to 200% of the taxes evaded and impose a jail term of up to five years.

Individuals 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 will not be penalized or prosecuted if they make a valid disclosure before they become aware of any compliance action being initiated by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) against them. These individuals 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-arc.gc.ca/convictions.

For broadcast use:

Richard Robert Anthony Krupowicz, a land surveyor from Barrie, operating as R.R. Krupowicz, pleaded guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie to one count of income tax evasion, and two counts of Goods and Services Tax (GST) evasion.