Tax evasion

Tamanini Muaiava and his wife Uputaua Muaiava were sentenced in the Papakura District Court this week on 65 charges each of evading or attempting to evade the assessment or payment of goods and services tax, and PAYE.

Tamanini Muaiava was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment and Uputaua Muaiava was sentenced to nine months home detention.

Inland Revenue spokesperson Tony Morris says Tamanini Muaiava has previous tax convictions and says someone who persistently evades their tax obligations in the way Mr Muaiava did, deserves to be held to account.

The 33-year-old was accused last year of evading €14.7million in taxes relating to his image rights between 2011 and 2014.

According to reports in Spain on Monday, Ronaldo's legal team made a settlement offer of €3.8m, plus admission of wrongdoing, which was rejected by the country's tax authorities.

The Portugal international appeared in court last year to respond to the allegations, insisting "I always pay what I have to pay; I do things the right way and I will continue to do so". His representatives, Gestifute, have also persistently denied any wrongdoing.

The National Government needs to exercise caution and needs in-depth research when addressing tax issues in the country.

“The government continues to target the same people with increased tax every year when they can set up measures to address tax issues properly and fairly,” Juffa said in a statement.

“There are big companies like supermarkets, logging and even foreign owned companies that avoid tax to maximise their profits using all types of means.