Minnesota Department of Revenue News Release: Former Hennepin County Resident Facing Felony Tax Charges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2012

 

Contact: Ryan Brown

Phone: 651-556-6750

Ryan.brown@state.mn.us

 

 

Former Hennepin County Resident Facing Felony Tax Charges

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office charged James M. Davis, 53, formerly a resident of Hennepin County, with three felony counts of willful failure to file and three felony counts of willful failure to pay Minnesota individual income tax for tax years 2008, 2009, and 2010.

 

The Minnesota Department of Revenue investigation revealed Davis operated Chief Express Trucking, a courier service, and received payments to Chief Express Trucking which exceeded the minimum filing requirement for the state of Minnesota.  Minnesota Department of Revenue records reflect no filing or payment of tax returns by Davis or Chief Express Trucking for those years.

 

Additionally, during 2008 and 2009 Davis earned income from Donnatelle Company, a business in New Brighton. Upon termination from the company, records obtained from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development confirmed that Davis received unemployment compensation from the state using a post office box as a mailing address, reporting his residency as Hennepin County.

 

The investigation further revealed that Davis made monthly rent payments for an address in Maple Grove beginning in August 2008 through December 2010. This information supports the department’s claim that Davis was a Minnesota resident during that period.

  

Davis’ tax liability for 2008, 2009, and 2010 amounted to $15,313.71, at the time of the completion of the investigation.

 

Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison or up to a $10,000 fine, or both.

 

The Minnesota Department of Revenue has a 24-hour tip line for anyone who suspects an individual or business is violating tax laws, at 651-297-5195 or 1-800-657-3500. Tipsters may remain anonymous and can also email the department at tax.fraud@state.mn.us.  Last year, citizen tips resulted in 89 percent of the department’s criminal case referrals.

 

While most taxpayers comply with tax laws voluntarily, the Minnesota Department of Revenue takes progressive enforcement action against noncompliant taxpayers ensuring tax laws are fairly administered, collecting no more and no less than taxpayers owe.

 

Learn how the Minnesota Department of Revenue is working to stop tax evasion on recreational vehicles here.

 

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