$60k fine for no tax returns

A BUSINESS owner has been hit with a massive fine after failing to lodge income tax and GST statements for decades.

Kristin Regan Burke, 48, was first sentenced in September 2019 and was convicted of 44 charges of failing to provide 11 income tax returns and 33 GST returns.

At that time, Burke was fined $35,000 and ordered to lodge the returns on or before December 31, 2019.

However, Burke had still not lodged his 2006 to 2016 income tax returns, and the 2007 to 2017 GST returns.

Burke has a current ATO debt of $18,305.90.

Burke’s name was called in the Townsville Magistrates Court. However he did not appear, and Magistrate Viviana Keegan allowed the matter to be finalised ex-parte, without his presence.

Ms Keegan said it was very difficult to take into account Burke’s financial circumstances, because of the lack of co-operation shown.

She fined Burke $60,000, with an additional $103.60 in court costs.

Convictions were recorded and the fines were referred to SPER.