TAX NEWS - June 2010

NYC Tax: NYC official among seven pleading guilty to tax evasion

NEW YORK - Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., announced the guilty pleas of seven individuals who did not file their personal income tax returns for an extended period of time. These cases are part of a larger investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office into individuals who failed to file their New York personal income tax returns for a period of five or more years, spearheaded by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

"When individuals fail to file their tax returns, let alone pay their fair share, they put an extra burden on the honest taxpayers who are contributing to the well-being of the City and State," said Vance. 

The most recent conviction is that of Richard Brescia, 54, the Director of Performance Management and Talent Development of the New York City Department of Education. On June 11, 2010, he pleaded guilty to Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree for filing 2008 Electronic Financial Disclosures with the New York City Department of Investigation ("DOI") falsely representing that he had filed his 2007 and 2008 New York personal income tax returns, and to Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree, for failing to file his 2008 New York personal income tax return. On the date of his pleas, he was sentenced to 15 days in jail on the false filing offense, and a $500 criminal fine on the failure to file offense.

Vance also announced that six other individuals have also pleaded guilty to failure to file their 2007 New York personal income tax returns.