Tony Metlege, Halifax developer, fined for tax evasion

One of the most prominent commercial developers in Halifax has been fined $82,544 for income tax evasion.

Anthony Joseph Metlege, also known as Tony Metlege Jr., was issued the fine Thursday in Halifax Provincial Court after being found guilty on five counts of Harmonized Sales Tax evasion.

The Canada Revenue Agency says their investigation revealed that from 2006 to 2010, Metlege collected $110,077 in HST on rent from tenants of his two commercial properties.

In a release, the CRA says unlike residential rental income, commercial rental income is taxable under the Excise Tax Act. Despite having charged and collected the HST from his commercial tenants, he failed to report that amount on his HST returns.

Court documents say the fine represents 75 per cent of the taxes he evaded and they must be paid within two years. In addition to the court-imposed fine, Metlege is also responsible for paying the full amount of tax owing, plus interest.

Metlege is listed as the developer of The Fairmount condominium development in Clayton Park.