Tax Evasion
Tax Evasion Attorney
The old common proverb states that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. While that’s almost certainly true, the tax code and filing requirements become more and more complicated every year, and on average, almost 800 changes to the federal tax code are made every filing year. Completing a tax return is not only a requirement, but that tax return needs to be accurate, timely and clearly state all income generated, regardless of the source, even if it’s illegal in nature.
No one who will owe tax payments looks forward to filing a return, but the fact of the matter is that if a tax return is filed that does not include all income, the person or entity responsible for this omission can face serious consequences from the federal government. If this is a situation that sounds familiar to you, Contact our tax evasion attorneys to schedule an initial consultation. In the meantime, below is a brief overview of federal tax evasion laws.
Federal Tax Evasion Laws
Federal law clearly states what a defendant will face if he or she attempts to hide any income on a tax return:
“Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ($500,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.”
The key wording in this statute is “willfully attempts in any manner.” What this means is that if a defendant is charged with tax evasion, the government must prove some form of intent on the part of that defendant in order to prove its case. This is consistent with the general burden of proof in any criminal trial, where the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime of which he or she is accused.
The statute of limitations on tax evasion is six years, but the statute does not begin to run against the government until the tax return is filed. For instance, if a tax return for the year 2000 was not filed until 2003, then the statute of limitations will not expire until the same date in 2009 on which the return was filed in 2003.
Your Next Step
If you are facing the prospect of a substantial fine or prison time based upon a charge or charges of tax evasion, you need to act quickly to build your defense. You will never face a more relentless and powerful opponent than the IRS, as your bank accounts can be frozen and your property seized during the collection and/or prosecutorial process.
Contact the tax evasion attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today to schedule an initial consultation to get the process of protecting and asserting your rights started.