Smyrna Business Owner Sentenced For Tax Charges

NASHVILLE ⎯ The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the conviction of Scharneitha Britton, owner, of Kinfolks BBQ, in Smyrna. Britton previously pleaded guilty to tax and theft charges.

On Friday, Judge Barry Tidwell sentenced Britton to six years of probation and ordered her to pay $68,205.73 in restitution.

A Rutherford County Grand Jury had indicted Britton on one Class B felony charge of theft over $60,000, 13 counts of money laundering (also Class B) and 36 felony counts of tax evasion. The indictments allege Britton underreported taxable sales and failed to remit additional sales tax collected from her customers.

“Investigations, such as this one, should warn retailers that failing to properly remit all the sales tax monies they collect is a crime, “Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. “The taxes collected from customers are property of the state and local governments at all times. Customers have a right to know that the tax they pay will be remitted to the state and used for the public good of all Tennesseans.”

The department pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Jennings Jones’ 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 and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects about 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2023 fiscal year, it collected $22 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $4.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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