Tax Fraud Accountant’s Identity Revealed

A Wellington accountant found guilty of providing false tax returns and misleading information to the Inland Revenue will no longer enjoy the benefits of name suppression. Imran Mohammad Kamal was granted name suppression until January 10 as part of a ruling made by the Wellington High Court on December 19.

IRD group tax counsel Graham Tubb was happy to receive news of the suppression’s lifting, saying Kamal was a key player in a high profile tax evasion case involving Brent Gilchrist and Scott Anderson. Kamal’s company, Accountants First Limited, billed Gilchrist and Anderson for IT services that were never rendered.

The company paid the invoices but the money was put into an offshore account. Kamal made sure to keep 90 percent of it for himself. The others received the remaining balance as a ‘fee’ for their involvement.

Kamal’s company also attempted to alter tax invoices in order to conceal the offshore bank account and redirected funds back to New Zealand through paying for work on his house, Tubb disclosed. As a result, Kamal was sentenced to 3 months home detention and 150 hours of community service on five charges of providing false tax returns and one charge of providing misleading information to the Inland Revenue intending to evade tax.

Tubb believes that it is the duty of tax professionals to uphold the integrity of the system.

“…the vast majority work hard to ensure that those they offer help to are operating within the rules. Unfortunately some will try and cheat the tax system as will those who choose to take that advice. The public can be confident that Inland Revenue will take action, including in some cases the removal of the right to act as a tax agent for others.”