A Manukau woman has been sentenced to seven months home detention and ordered to repay just over $68,000 in reparations for filing false Working for Families Tax Credits, donation tax credits, and Paid Parental Leave claims to which she was not entitled.
Loata Taufua Patolo had earlier pleaded guilty in the Manukau District Court of falsely claiming the refunds, which resulted in a loss to Inland Revenue of just over $68,000, and attempting to claim a further $31,000.
She was charged under the Tax Administration Act and Crimes Act.
Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Group Manager (Assurance) Patrick Goggin said that Patolo’s offending occurred between 2006 and 2011.
“During this period, Patolo received Working for Families Tax Credits for her three children, even though they had all left the country in early 2007 and are still overseas. She also applied for tax credits for an additional child in her care, to which she was not entitled, and filed using other peoples’ names and false details,” he said.
Mr Goggin said that Patolo also claimed donation tax credits, both in her own name and her partner’s name, along with false Paid Parental Leave credits using forged medical certificates and by telling Inland Revenue that she was self-employed.
“This was a deliberate and concerted effort to obtain money from IRD. Patolo clearly understood the tax rules, because not only did she file a number of false claims, but she also filed in three different tax types,” he said.
Mr Goggin said that IRD officials became aware of the offending when investigations showed that the refunds, including those claimed for different people, had been paid into Patolo’s bank account.
“This case is a reminder that IRD examines all tax credit claims, using its resources and techniques to catch those making fraudulent claims. We are making it easier for customers to receive their tax refunds as quickly as possible but unfortunately there are those who try and cheat the system,” he said.
An Inland Revenue Press Release
