Madison County man pleads guilty to tax evasion

MADISON COUNTY RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION

FRANKLIN — Charles Markham pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion in a Williamson County Criminal Court last week.  Judge Joseph Woodruff sentenced Markham to 11 months and 29 days of probation for tax evasion.  Markham paid the state $3,992.83 in restitution.

Markham violated Tennessee law by failing to pay sales tax on a vehicle his Montana LLC purchased in Williamson County. He signed an affidavit that he would take the vehicle outside of Tennessee within three days of purchase, then did not do so.

“We want Tennesseans to know that individuals cannot evade sales tax by falsifying registration documents and failing to register vehicles as the law requires,” Special Investigations Director Tommy Sneed said. “Tennessee citizens who engage in this type of activity will be held accountable.”

The Department of Revenue pursued this criminal case in cooperation with District Attorney Stacey Edmonson’s Office.  Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee’s revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hotline at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).

The Department of Revenue is responsible for administering state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws and collecting taxes and fees associated with those laws. The department collects around 87 percent of total state revenue. During the 2024 fiscal year, it collected nearly $22.2 billion in state taxes and fees and more than $4.7 billion in taxes and fees for local governments. To learn more about the department, visit www.tn.gov/revenue.

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