Former Williamson County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Sales Tax Evasion
Monday, July 13, 2009 | 09:29am
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to today’s guilty plea by Norman R. Shue, age 66, former owner of Circa Home Interiors formerly located at 230 Franklin Road in Franklin.
Shue pleaded guilty to 11 Class E felony counts of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) with all counts to run concurrently. As part of the plea agreement, Shue is required to pay $14,190.06 in restitution to the State of Tennessee for sales tax he collected but intentionally did not remit between May 2004 through Oct. 2004 and Dec. 2004 through April 2005. Shue was sentenced to three years in the state penitentiary with all time suspended to probation. All other felony counts against him were dismissed. Shue still faces similar charges in Davidson County.
“The Department of Revenue is committed to applying Tennessee’s tax laws and policies uniformly to all taxpayers to ensure a level playing field,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “The department cannot and will not allow people engaged in fraudulent tax activities to have a competitive advantage over honest businesspeople.”
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with District Attorney General Kim R. Helper’s Office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).
The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the department collected $10.2 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.
Related news: March 31, 2009 – Former Business Owner Charged with Sales Tax Evasion and Theft (http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/1158)
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