Woodbridge Resident Fined $20,000 for not Filing GST/HST Returns


NEWMARKET, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 13, 2013) - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced today that on December 10, 2013, Nicola (Nick) Mossa, of Woodbridge, Ontario, pleaded guilty in Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, Ontario, to 20 counts of failure to file GST/HST returns. Mossa was fined $1,000 per count, for a total of $20,000. He has thirty-six months to pay the fine. All outstanding returns have been filed.

Mossa, as director of Four Points Electrical, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., failed to file 20 quarterly GST/HST returns for various periods from May 1, 2000 to October 31, 2009. On November 19, 2010, the CRA served Mossa with notices demanding that the returns be filed. Failure to comply with these notices resulted in charges being laid.

The preceding information was obtained from the court records.

In addition to the fines imposed by the courts, individuals or corporations convicted of failing to file tax returns are still obligated to file the 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.

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 Web site 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.

Contact Information:

Kim Hynes
Communications Manager
705-671-0594