A Northland man who created a tax evasion scheme involving Maori trusts has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail.
Timothy Vivian Meredith, from Kerikeri, was sentenced in Whangarei District Court on tax offences totalling nearly $500,000 in relation to a number of businesses.
Meredith used the Nga Uri O Tupoto Incorporation bank account, along with three others, to hide their incomes from various businesses and evade tax.
"No income tax or GST returns were filed and Meredith effectively washed the income through the bank account and it was used by the participants for their personal living expenses," says Inland Revenue's group manager Tony Morris.
Mr Morris says Meredith knew he was required to file his income tax and GST returns and knew the consequences if he didn't.
Meredith was prosecuted in 2007 and made bankrupt in 2008 after failing to file tax returns for an accounting and business mentoring service.
"While the vast majority of taxpayers are doing the right thing, there are people like Meredith who think they can get away with ripping off decent New Zealanders," says Mr Morris.
Meredith has been declared bankrupt for the second time.
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