A Nanaimo father and son convicted of tax evasion will have to pay fines equalling the amount of taxes evaded and complete some community service hours.
Graydon and Matthew Tyskerud, who were found guilty of one count of tax evasion each on Feb. 14, were sentenced in Nanaimo provincial court last week.
Graydon Tyskerud was fined $14,186, representing 100 per cent of the taxes evaded, sentenced to 160 hours of community service and ordered to file his 2009 to 2012 personal income tax returns by Aug. 14. Matthew Tyskerud was fined $3,320 – 100 per cent of taxes evaded – sentenced to 80 hours of community service and must file his 2007 to 2012 personal income tax returns by Aug. 14 as well.
A Canada Revenue Agency investigation found that Graydon Tyskerud failed to report income of $109,837 for the 2003 through the 2005 taxation years and Matthew Tyskerud failed to report income of $53,588 for the taxation years 2004 through 2006.
During their defence, states a Canada Revenue Agency news release, the Tyskeruds told the court their income was “gifts from God” and that, referring to themselves as “children of God”, they believed they had the right to arrange their affairs in a way that would exempt them from paying income tax.
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 becoming aware of any compliance action initiated by the Canada Revenue Agency.
More information on voluntary disclosures and convictions can be found at www.cra.gc.ca.