Former Cheatham County Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Sales Tax Evasion
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 | 08:24am
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to yesterday’s guilty plea by Madget A. Tidwell, age 49, past owner of Pizza Pro formerly located at 149 Dillard Court, Suite C in Kingston Springs.
Tidwell pleaded guilty to one Class E felony count of Sales Tax Evasion in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g). As part of the plea agreement, Tidwell is required to pay $11,357.80 in restitution to the State of Tennessee for sales tax she collected but intentionally did not remit from July 2006 through June 2007. Tidwell was sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary with all time suspended to probation, and she was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.
“The majority of businesses pay appropriate taxes,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “This case serves as a warning to others who think they can get away with tax fraud in Tennessee. We will continue to pursue criminal activity and prosecute tax evaders to maintain fairness in our tax structure for Tennesseans.”
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with District Attorney General Dan M. Alsobrooks’ 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: April 24, 2009 - Former Cheatham County Business Owner Charged with Sales Tax Evasion (http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/1339)
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