Ex-Kubota official enters guilty plea

The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to yesterday’s guilty plea of Irvie W. Loudermilk, Jr., former general manger of Warren County Kubota. Judge Bart Stanley, Warren County Circuit Court, accepted Loudermilk’s guilty plea to eight counts of sales tax evasion and sentenced him to thirty days in jail and ordered $18,120.77 in restitution to the state of Tennessee. Loudermilk, already on probation for related sales tax evasion charges in Rutherford County, was placed on an additional four years’ probation, which will run concurrent with those same charges.

“Tennessee’s tax structure depends on taxpayers voluntarily complying with the laws,” said Revenue Commissioner Richard H. Roberts. “Taxpayers who collect but intentionally do not remit sales tax, breach the public’s trust and violate the criminal laws of the State. This case underscores our commitment to rigorous and fair administration of Tennessee’s tax laws.”

Commissioner Roberts expressed his appreciation for the excellent cooperation the department has enjoyed with District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis’ office. Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee’s revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

In addition to collecting state taxes, $2.0 billion of local sales and business taxes were collected by the department for local governments during the 2012 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.TN.gov/revenue