Blount County Man Pleads Guilty to Sales Tax Evasion Charges

MARYVILLE, Tenn.-The Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to today’s guilty plea of Troy James Bull to two counts of Sales Tax Evasion.

 

Bull was sentenced to one year for each count, but was placed on supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution to the State in the amount of $1,831.50 for unpaid sales tax. On April 10, 2010, the Blount County Grand Jury returned a 2 count indictment for Evasion of Sales Tax in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. Section 67-1-1440(g), a Class E felony. According to the indictments, Bull 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.

 

“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."

 

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 91 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the department collected $10.1 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 2009-2010 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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