Belanger Construction, based out of Chelmsford in Greater Sudbury, has been fined $200,000 for tax evasion.
The company’s services include the construction of road, bridge, and sewer and water infrastructure, along with winter road maintenance.
An investigation by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revealed Belanger, in 2008 and 2009, recorded overtime pay in the amount of $1,242,357 as non-taxable allowances. The employees then received payment for overtime by way of a separate cheque which was not part of the payroll, or by having Belanger pay directly for some of their personal expenses.
In doing so, Belanger avoided withholding and remitting the required income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums. Belanger did not record the overtime as income on the T4s prepared for the employees. As a result, employees who under-reported their taxable income for the 2008 and 2009 taxation years have been reassessed for additional federal taxes.
Belanger has also been reassessed for the failure to withhold and remit CPP contributions and EI premiums on the overtime paid in the form of non-taxable allowances for the period of January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009.
The CRA noted that Belanger fully cooperated with the CRA throughout the course of the investigation.
