Sussex County Commissioner Bill Hayden indicted
BRANCHVILLE. Hayden is charged with filing a fraudulent tax return, in which he claimed a veteran’s exemption to which he was not entitled.
Sussex County Commissioner Bill Hayden has been indicted on a third-degree charge of filing a fraudulent tax return, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) said Tuesday, July 15.
Hayden, 58, of Branchville is accused of filing a fraudulent tax return in which he claimed a veteran’s exemption to which he was not entitled.
“Our tax system relies on everyone filing a true and accurate tax return,” said Platkin. “Fraudulently claiming an exemption reserved for military veterans is something we will not tolerate.”
DCJ director Theresa Hilton said, “Attempting to avoid payment of taxes by fraudulently claiming veterans’ status is a violation of our tax laws that cannot go unpunished.”
According to documents filed in the case, on July 14, 2020, Hayden allegedly filed, prepared or caused to be filed a fraudulent tax return with the intent to evade, avoid or otherwise not pay taxes.
He allegedly assisted his wife in the preparation of their New Jersey Gross Income Tax Return for the tax year ending Dec. 31, 2019, on which the box “Spouse/CU Partner Veteran” was falsely marked indicating that William Hayden was a veteran.
Hayden is not a veteran, according to the statement from Platkin’s office.
As a result, he received a $6,000 exemption to which he was not entitled, resulting in the avoidance of about $382 in taxes.
Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
