Man jailed over tax credit scam

Inland Revenue says Wellington accountant Imran Kamal was a key player in a recent high profile tax evasion case. Photo / APNZ

A man who lied about having five children to receive $120,000 in tax credits has been jailed.

Roland Maurice Ranger, from Wellsford, was yesterday sentenced in North Shore District Court to one year and four months in prison for claiming for five children that weren't his.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to Inland Revenue in order to obtain a refund or payment of tax.

Ranger used a fake name and false information to receive Working for Families tax credits, IRD said.

The case was a warning to anyone who thought they could beat the rules and get away with it, said Patrick Goggin, group manager investigations and advice for Inland Revenue.

"If you deliberately break the rules, there are consequences," said Mr Goggin.

"Those who abide by the system can be confident we take every action to catch and punish those who cheat."

Ranger, who also uses the name James Tyson, fraudulently obtained an IRD number under the fake name of Roland Maurice Grainger. In 2005, and for the next six years, he used it to get the maximum amount of Working for Families tax credits for five children that weren't his and who had left New Zealand in 2005.

"By claiming more than $120,000 of tax credits he wasn't entitled to, Ranger persistently denied hard-working New Zealanders money that pays for essential services like schools and hospitals," Mr Goggin said.

Between 2004 to 2006 and 2008 to 2012, Ranger also used the fake name and IRD number to claim unemployment benefit despite still filing income tax returns.

"Ranger intentionally ignored the rules and cheated those who work hard and contribute towards society," he said.

The payments were immediately stopped when Inland Revenue identified the deception through its work with other government agencies, Mr Goggin said.