Sevier County Business Owner Arrested on Sales Tax Fraud Charges
Thursday, September 24, 2009 | 06:10am
SEYMOUR, Tenn. – The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to yesterday’s arrest of Aftab Badalpara, age 45, a corporate officer of A Noorani, Inc., dba Floyd Market in Seymour, Tenn. Badalpara was arrested at his business in Seymour by agents of the Department of Revenue. Bond was set at $100,000.
On Sept. 21, 2009, the Sevier County Grand Jury indicted Badalpara. The indictments charged Aftab Badalpara with 27 Class E felony counts of Sales Tax Fraud in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g) for failure to remit collected sales tax in the amount of $33,730.43 from Oct. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2007.
“The Department of Revenue promotes voluntary taxpayer compliance by educating taxpayers, aggressively pursuing criminal sanctions and demanding accountability when taxpayers engage in fraudulent activity," said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. "This investigation underscores our department's ongoing efforts to enforce Tennessee's tax laws."
If convicted, Badalpara could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for each count. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state.
This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with District Attorney General James Dunn’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.TN.gov/revenue.
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