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A Woodstock businessman faces a possible 471 days in jail if he does not pay a $24,000 fine in one year's time.

Brent Clark pleaded guilty Monday in Woodstock provincial court to seven counts of failing to comply with a November 2006 court order to file three personal income tax returns and four corporate tax returns for his company 056657 NB Ltd., which operates as Riverside Pub.

He also pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with notices to file personal tax returns for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and corporate tax returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006 for his company 056657 NB Ltd.

He was given until Aug. 25, 2009, to pay the $24,000 fine or spend 471 days in jail.

On Nov. 23, 2006, Clark pleaded guilty of not complying with a previous court order to file his 2000, 2001 and 2002 personal income tax returns and the corporation's 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 tax returns. He was fined $5,000 and given until May 27, 2007, to pay.

The judge also ordered him to file all of the missing personal and corporate income tax returns by March 30, 2007.

Failure to comply with this court order resulted in the additional charges being laid.

The court heard Monday that Clark has not filed tax returns since he started his business in 1994.

When individuals are convicted for not filing their tax returns, in addition to any fines imposed by the courts, they are still obligated to file the returns and pay the full amount of taxes owing plus interest, as well as any civil penalties that may be assessed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The CRA will challenge non-compliance with tax laws.

However, individuals who have not filed returns for previous years, or who have not reported all of their income, can still voluntarily correct their tax affairs.

They will not be penalized or prosecuted if they make a full disclosure before the agency starts any action or investigation against them.

These individuals may only have to pay the taxes owing, plus interest.

More information on the Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) can be found on the CRA's Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/voluntarydisclosures.

Last year, compliance officers at the Saint John Tax Services Office obtained 3,130 returns from people who were required to file but had not done so. The additional taxes, penalties and interest from those returns totalled $15 million. In addition, 14 individuals were prosecuted for not filing returns and the courts imposed fines of $57,800.