By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner WriterBLACK RIVER:
JOSEPH BECKFORD was fined $12,000 or 21 days in prison for failing to file Income Tax Returns over a four-year period. He appeared in the Black River Resident Magistrate's Court last Wednesday.
Beckford was taken before the court by the Black River branch of the Inland Revenue Department after he was caught trying to hide Income Tax Returns for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively.
However, when the accused man appeared before the court, he pleaded guilty to the charge, arguing that his computer was down for some time and that is one of the things that led to the mix up.
The Government Tax Agency had a busy day in court as other persons and company were taken before the court for a number of offences such as Income Tax non-payment, General Consumption Tax, PAYE Tax, among others.
Resident Magistrate for St. Elizabeth Lyle Armstrong exercised her power by finding all the persons and company which appeared before her on these tax-related matters guilty. She told the accused that she will not be putting up with the business of people paying their taxes late or refusing to pay them.
