KEY POINTS:
A Whakatane tax agent defrauded the Inland Revenue Department of $50,000 by claiming multiple rebates under false names.
As a tax agent for Whakatane firm Quay Accountants, Heather Jean Trudi Manssen, 37, had access to an Inland Revenue online service where she could file returns electronically without supporting documentation, Whakatane District Court was told.
She pleaded guilty before before Judge Paul Geoghegan on Wednesday to 79 charges of computer crime.
She entered no plea to one charge of money laundering.
Manssen used her access to the site - by username and password - to register 12 people for tax rebates and changing their bank account details to her own crown solicitor Catherine Harold said.
Between April and July this year, she lodged 70 electronic rebate claims under the 12 names, claiming rebates of $43,493.
Manssen was dismissed from the firm in mid-July when her offending was discovered and Quay reported the matter to the Inland Revenue.
However, she secured a new job at another Whakatane accountancy firm and was able to file a further six false rebate claims, totalling $3745, before Inland Revenue cancelled her access to the online service.
Manssen pocketed a total of $47,868 in false rebates which were spread out over several bank accounts. She spent the money on mortgage and vehicle payments, a television and overseas travel.
Manssen was remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report before sentencing on January 14. The charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
- NZPA
