December 20, 2012

Mother secretly registered sons for GST

By David Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae

A Christchurch sickness beneficiary who registered her two sons for GST without their knowledge and claimed a series of refunds totalling $48,233, has admitted 25 charges and faces sentencing in March.

Fay Marie Barnes pleaded guilty at the Nga Hau e Wha marae?s Christchurch District Court session in Aranui today, to the charges of dishonestly using documents ? GST returns.

Inland Revenue prosecutor Paul Saunders said she had registered her sons and filed the returns, and then withdrew the money from their accounts and used it for household purposes.

She told investigators that her sons had no knowledge of the registration nor the returns.

Mr Saunders said she had been prosecuted for tax offending in 2001 when she had received a sentence of 180 hours community work, and had received a warning in 2006.

Judge Raoul Neave remanded Barnes on bail for sentencing at the marae on March 14, and ordered a pre-sentence report, a report on her ability to pay the money back, and her suitability for home or community detention.