Rochester Lawyer Pleads Guilty To Tax Charge

Failed To File NYS Personal Income Tax Returns For Three Consecutive Years

ALBANY, NY (10/05/2009)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward announced that Steven J. Seidman, 52, a Rochester attorney with offices located at 90 Office Way, Pittsford, pled guilty today to one misdemeanor count of failing to pay personal income taxes.

He received an unconditional discharge.

Seidman had been charged with felony counts for failing to file personal income tax returns for tax years 2005 through 2007. Prior to the plea, made before the Honorable Stephen T. Miller, acting Monroe County Court judge, Seidman filed the delinquent returns and paid $4,365 in back taxes.

Seidman's unpaid tax liabilities were uncovered by the Tax Department's Special Investigations Unit in the Rochester District Office as investigators sought to identify attorneys and other professionals who had neglected to file personal income tax returns.

Acting Commissioner Woodward said, "We find tax cheats among all professions and regardless of how they cheat, these scofflaws force all other New Yorkers to shoulder a greater share of the tax burden. The Tax Department is committed to pursuing all tax cheats so that every New Yorker pays their fair share."

Acting Commissioner Woodward thanked Monroe County District Attorney Michael C. Green for his aggressive prosecution of this case.

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