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Judge questions whether property developer accepts responsibility for tax offences
Summary
James Jordan (51) of Laochfail, Outfarm Lane, Castleknock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin expressed concerns regarding a report on Jordan's fitness for community service, noting that Jordan presented his fraudulent claims as an "oversight" and attributed responsibility to certain employees. The judge questioned whether Jordan accepts responsibility for his offences. Séamus Clarke SC, defending, submitted a signed agreement between Jordan and Revenue, under which Jordan will pay approximately €5,000 per month. Jordan has already made payments totalling €57,500. The court heard that Jordan came to the attention of a special Revenue unit due to his large property portfolio in the 2000s. Former Revenue Officer Elizabeth Keane testified that Jordan failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of five properties between 2004 and 2010. Jordan also submitted four incorrect invoices which lowered his VAT liability. Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that Jordan failed to pay tax on rental income and waived a tax exemption he was entitled to. She also highlighted that Jordan made false claims for Income Tax relief for properties not registered to the PRTB. The total figure owed by Jordan, including interest and penalties, was €1,236,881. Jordan has one previous conviction from 2017 for failure to file an income tax return. Mr Clarke stated that Jordan runs a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he received a custodial sentence. Judge Ní Chúlacháin ordered an updated probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 18, of this year.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge questions whether property developer accepts responsibility for tax offences. Charges or matters: knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 18 Adjournment
- 2004 and 2010 Other
- 2019-02-01 Publication
Why: Judge Ní Chúlacháin noted that Jordan had failed to pay tax on rental income and had waived a tax exemption on this income which he was entitled to in order to offset it elsewhere. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: knowingly and wilfully submitting 16 incorrect VAT returns, six incorrect income tax returns, four incorrect invoices and three false claims of income tax relief (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin said she had concerns with a report regarding his fitness for community service ,in which Jordan presented his fraudulent claims as an "oversight" on his part and said that certain of his employees had been responsible. Mr Clarke said Jordan ran a carpet business and that people would lose their jobs if he was given a custodial sentence.; Judge Ní Chúlacháin ordered an updated probation report and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 18, of this year.
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