Blount County Resident Surrenders to Authorities on Sales Tax Evasion Charges

MARYVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the surrender of Troy James Bull on sales tax evasion charges on April 7. Bull, age 36, turned himself in to Blount County Detention Center officials. Bond was set at $5,000.

 

On April 5, 2010, the Blount County Grand Jury returned a two-count indictment for evasion of sales tax in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g), a Class E felony. The indictments charge Bull intentionally filed false and fraudulent documents with the Blount County Clerk’s Office regarding his registration of a boat in May 2008 and a truck in Sept. 2008. By understating the actual purchase prices of the boat and truck, Bull failed to remit $1,831.50 in sales tax due the State of Tennessee.

 

“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, Bull could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined $3,000 for each count.   

 

This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with District Attorney General Mike Flynn’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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