Two “tax protester” were sentenced Friday in the palais de justice de Laval

QMI agency

Friday, 9 February 2018 20:23

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Friday, 9 February 2018 20:23

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Two “tax protester” quebecers have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of two years less a day to be served in the community, to two years of probation and 480 hours of community service, announced the Canada revenue Agency (CRA).

The two individuals, Serge Fréchette, a resident of Montreal, and Jean-Pierre Ste-Marie, St-Jérôme, were sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to charges of fraud before the Court of Quebec in Laval.

“The investigation conducted by the CRA has shown that between September 2008 and July 2011, Serge Fréchette has advised and helped 120 individuals of evading or attempting to evade a total of 1 770 to $ 210 in federal income tax for the tax years 2003 to 2010,” explained the Canada revenue Agency, in a press release.

“For Jean-Pierre Ste-Marie, who acted as a facilitator to Mr. Fréchette, the survey of the ARC has demonstrated that, for the taxation years 2003 to 2010, he has helped 95 individuals of evading or attempting to evade more than 1 435 000 $ in federal taxes, by claiming ineligible expenses to reduce their taxable income, added by the CRA. The allegations made against Mr. Ste-Marie occurred between September 2008 and July 2011.”

The “tax protester” are “people who rely on the erroneous notion, according to which they do not have to pay income tax on the income they earn,” explained the CRA when announcing the two convictions. In fact, they use a combination of legal and other arguments in order to opt out of the tax system.”