WASHINGTON — The owner of Turning Natural Juice, a juice bar chain with locations in D.C. and Maryland, owes almost half a million dollars in back taxes. Jerri Evans pleaded guilty to tax fraud on Wednesday.
Authorities found Evans did not pay sales tax for three years at three separate locations he owned.
He now owes the District $452,522.07 in back taxes, penalties, and interest.
Under D.C. law, businesses must collect sales tax and send it to the city. Restaurant meals are taxable at a rate of 10%.
An investigation by the DC Attorney General's office revealed that Evans did not pay monthly sales taxes for three Turning Natural locations from 2017 to 2020. Even though he charged customers a lower sales tax rate of 5.75%, he failed to pay those funds to the District. After being audited in 2018, Evans was made aware of the incorrect sales tax rate and was given a final past-due tax assessment in 2019. Evans did not pay the past due amount and continued to not pay sales tax in 2019 or through April 2020.
On May 29, Evans pleaded guilty to one count of failure to pay over sales tax. He entered into a payment plan to pay the money back over the next five years. In addition to paying back the money he owes, Evans will be placed under supervised probation and will have to complete community service.
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