New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward announced that attorney Paul W. Martin, 50, of 69 Blue Ridge Road, Penfield, pled guilty Monday before Acting Monroe County Court Judge Stephen T. Miller, to one misdemeanor count of failing to pay personal income taxes.

Martin had been charged with four felony counts for failing to file personal income tax returns for tax years 2002-2006.

Prior to the plea, Martin filed the delinquent tax returns and paid the Department of Taxation and Finance $13,475 in back taxes, penalty and interest.

Martin’s delinquencies were uncovered by the Rochester Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance’s Office of Tax Enforcement.  This SIU initiative has resulted in identifying Rochester area lawyers and other professionals who have failed to file and remit personal income taxes to the State.

Acting Commissioner Woodward said, “The Department is committed to uncovering tax cheats among all professions, from blue collar workers to high-wage earners in the medical and legal fields.  Regardless of how they cheat, these scofflaws force all other New Yorkers to shoulder a greater share of the tax burden, taxes that pay for essential services such as health care, education and transportation. 

“The Department offers programs such as the Voluntary Disclosure and Compliance Program to encourage delinquent taxpayers to become compliant without facing criminal prosecution or civil penalty.  It is hoped that this case will encourage such taxpayers to come forward and satisfy their tax obligation.  For more information about these programs, go to the Department’s website at www.nystax.gov.”

Acting Commissioner Woodward also thanked Monroe County District Attorney Michael C. Green and his staff for their aggressive prosecution of these cases.