FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 22, 2002 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Becky Smalley
(302)577-8667
rsmalley@state.de.us

WILMINGTON ACCOUNTANT AND PHYSICIAN INDICTED ON TAX CHARGES 

(Wilmington, DE) - In two separate actions, William M. Remington, Director of Revenue announced today that the Grand Jury for the Superior Court in New Castle County returned indictments against Pamela W. Baker, a Wilmington accountant and Dr. Charles E. Hill a Wilmington physician.

Ms. Baker was charged with three misdemeanor offenses of failing to file returns, supply information or pay tax for years 1998, 1999 and 2000. 

The charges against Ms. Baker allege she failed to file personal tax returns and report over $438,000 of Delaware adjusted income and pay over $17,400 in tax for 1998, 1999 and 2000. 

The three personal tax offenses are misdemeanors by law, and each is punishable by up to a maximum one-year imprisonment and up to $2,300 in fines. 

Mr. Remington said, "Ms. Baker has been indicted on charges of intentionally failing to file the same Delaware tax returns and to report her own income and tax liability as she prepares for her clients.

"Tax season is not over and the majority of law-abiding taxpayers will have filed their returns and paid their taxes by the April 30 deadline for filing Delaware returns."

"Many taxpayers depend on the services of paid professionals such as Ms. Baker who has the same tax filing responsibilities as those for whom she prepares returns for a living."

"Sometimes circumstances are such that taxpayers fall behind, and the Division of Revenue will not take criminal action against those who self-disclose their delinquent tax filings by coming forward and working with our representatives to resolve such matters."

"But where taxpayers are unwilling to self-disclose, service to law-abiding citizens requires the Division of Revenue continue to deal aggressively with those who fail to file or who underreport their taxes, as with Ms. Baker, who knew very well that she had tax filing obligations and yet ignored them."

In a separate action, Wilmington physician Dr. Charles E. Hill was charged with four counts for failing to collect or pay over to the State nearly $11,000 in employee withholding taxes for 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. 

The four withholding charges are felonies by law and each is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and such fines and penalties as the court deems appropriate.

Additionally Dr. Hill was charged with three misdemeanor offenses of failing to file returns, supply information or pay tax on $304,900 of adjusted gross income and $15,600 of tax for 1998, 1999 and 2000. 

The three personal tax offenses are misdemeanors by law, and each is punishable by up to a maximum one-year imprisonment and up to $2,300 in fines. 

The charges against Ms. Baker and Dr. Hill are based on investigations conducted by the Delaware Division of Revenue and referred to the Delaware Attorney General's office for indictment and prosecution. 

Baker and Hill each await arraignment and trial date in Superior Court in Wilmington.

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