TAX NEWS - February 2009

Hawaii tax: hawaii Tax Protestor Sentenced for State Tax Crimes

HONOLULU – Clifford K. Parker was sentenced today on six counts of Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax and six counts of Willful Failure to File Tax Return relating to the tax years 2000 through 2005.

The Honorable Steven S. Alm placed Parker on probation for a period of five years and ordered him to serve thirty days in jail and pay restitution of $15,079. Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax is a class C felony. Wilful Failure to File Return is a misdemeanor.

Parker evaded the payment of his state taxes by falsely claiming "99" exemptions on his Form HW-4 (Employee's Withholding Allowance and Status Certificate), and failed to timely file his individual state income tax returns and pay his state income taxes. The prosecution of Parker is the result of a joint effort between the Department of Taxation and the office of the Attorney General.

For more information, contact:

Stephen Hironaka
Department of Taxation