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A Grand Falls tax preparer was fined $32,093.99 and sentenced to 16 months of house arrest Wednesday in Grand Falls provincial court for tax evasion.

France Desjardins, operator of a Cash X franchise and an employee of the H&R Block franchises in Grand Falls and Saint Quentin, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of tax evasion under the Income Tax Act and one charge of committing an indictable offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

She was sentenced to begin the 16 months of house arrest immediately. She was ordered to pay the fine within 36 months in default of which she would face 90 days in jail.

A joint-force operation between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the RCMP revealed that Desjardins made false and deceptive entries on her clients' 2005 tax returns.

Desjardins would adjust her clients' income tax returns after the discounting transactions were completed to include fraudulent deductions and non-refundable tax credits such as tuition, medical expenses and child-care expenses and obtained refunds in amounts greater than which they were entitled.

When individuals or corporations are convicted of tax evasion, they have to pay the full amount of tax owing, plus interest and any penalties assessed by the CRA.