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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who allegedly told the Utah State Tax Commission that his annual salary was $0, even though he made more than $100,000 for several years, has been charged with 22 felonies accusing him of tax evasion.
Robin Dale Kartchner, 67, of Pleasant Grove, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court by the Utah Attorney General's Office with nine counts of failing to render a proper tax return, a third-degree felony; six counts of intending to defeat the payment of a tax, a second-degree felony; six counts of communications fraud, a second-degree felony; and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony.
According to prosecutors, Kartchner has been involved in tax fraud for 20 years.
"Kartchner has repeatedly prepared and submitted false information to the tax commission to obtain money to which he is not entitled. He has repeatedly filed false returns and false substitute W-2s claiming he has no income when employer information obtained by the state showed substantial income. He received proceeds from these activities in the form of refunds which were applied to reduce other existing tax liabilities," charges state.
"Kartchner filed false substitute W-2 forms for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015. These substitute W-2 forms show thousands of dollars in state income tax withheld yet show zero ($0) wages, tips or other compensation earned. Kartchner has been involved in this form of conduct with every return filed from his 1996 return forward," according to charging documents.
Kartchner worked for DME Systems Consulting/DME Health Services in Pleasant Grove, according to court records. He was a billing manager, according to Kartchner's LinkedIn page.
During prior hearings with the tax commission, "Kartchner argued that his income was not 'compensation' within his own interpretation of the tax laws," the charges state.
On his income tax returns for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015, Kartchner reported $0 income "and requested a full refund of state taxes withheld by his employer," the charges state.
According to his employer's W-2, Kartchner made nearly $100,000 in 2007; more than $112,000 in 2008 and 2009; about $85,000 in 2010-13 and 2015, court records state.
