SEVIER COUNTY BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED
ON SALES TAX EVASION CHARGES

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue’s Special Investigations Section conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and subsequent guilty plea of Robert Victor Diefenbach on four counts of sales tax evasion. On August 26, 2008, Diefenbach, owner of M & R Auto, 2903 Newport Highway in Sevierville, was granted judicial diversion and sentenced to eight years of supervised probation.

Diefenbach was ordered to pay $26,398.44 in restitution to the state for unpaid sales tax collected at his business from Jan. 1, 2002 through Sept. 30, 2004. Additionally, civil taxes, penalties and interest will be due the state.

“The Department of Revenue is committed to applying Tennessee’s tax laws and policies uniformly to all taxpayers to ensure a level playing field,” said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. “The department cannot and will not allow people engaged in fraudulent tax activities to have a competitive advantage over honest businesspeople.”

This case was pursued criminally by the department in cooperation with Fourth Judicial District Attorney General James Dunn’s Office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee's revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the department collected $11.2 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.

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