10302018 - News Article - Porter County assessor pleads guilty for failing to file tax form

Porter County assessor pleads guilty for failing to file tax form
Chicago Tribune
October 30, 2018
https://www.chicagotribune.com/search/dispatcher.front?Query=jon+snyder&target=all&spell=on

The Porter County assessor pleaded guilty Tuesday for failing to file a tax form related to his personal business.

Jon Snyder, 42, pleaded guilty Oct. 24 to failing to supply information to the IRS, a misdemeanor charge. Magistrate Judge John Martin on Tuesday walked Snyder through a plea agreement filed the same day he was charged in federal court, and asked how he pleaded to the charge.

“Guilty, your honor,” Snyder said.

The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, according to court documents, and up to a $100,000 fine.

Snyder, as owner of Shoreline Appraisals Inc., allegedly failed to give the IRS an “Informational Return 1099 Form, which is a requirement for non-employees who received more than $600 in payments during a calendar year,” according to court documents.

Snyder and Shoreline Appraisals allegedly failed to file the document for “Person A,” who was paid more than $5,000 in 2013, according to court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Benson said a contractor would file a 1099 Form with the IRS, and the form Snyder failed to submit is a business’ side of that filing. Benson said the IRS uses those forms to track what is paid to non-employees.

“That burden would have fallen on Mr. Jon Snyder as he was the owner of the business,” Benson said.

Martin asked if Snyder agreed with Benson’s account.

“I do, your honor,” Snyder said.

Snyder’s attorney, Matthew Fech, said that Snyder does not intend to resign from office, and the charges do not have any bearing on his capacity as county assessor.