What to Do If You Are Accused of Tax Evasion
If a business entity or individual has deliberately misrepresented their financial state of affairs or willfully paid less than their owed taxes, this conduct is considered tax evasion. Tax evasion is a serious crime that can result in up to five years in federal prison, significant fines, court-ordered restitution, and a lengthy probationary period. If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is investigating your business or if you have been charged with a tax crime, consult a federal criminal defense attorney in Tampa today.
Tax Evasion Crimes
Although there are a myriad of ways that a person or business entity can purposefully withhold payment of taxable assets, here are some common examples of tax fraud:
- Deliberately understating annual earnings
- Overstating the amount of tax deductions
- Destroying or failing to provide tax-relevant records
- Hiding taxable assets from the IRS or holding property in another person’s name
- Accepting cash for jobs in lieu of taxable income
- Refusing to file a tax return
- Creating false invoices or filing a fraudulent return
- Refusing to cooperate with the IRS
- Fraudulent actions or concealment tactics during an investigation
Tax Evasion Defense
A federal criminal defense lawyer in Tampa can provide an accused party with valuable defenses including:
- Tax Mistakes: Tax laws can be extremely complex, and countless citizens make mistakes every year regarding their taxes. Depending on the circumstances of your case, an attorney can showcase that an honest mistake was made when the taxes were filed or that the IRS miscalculated the taxes owed or that you paid all the taxes that you legitimately owed.
- Statute of Limitations: When did the alleged tax crime take place? The statute of limitation of a tax crime is generally within six years of the alleged activity. For example, if the IRS claims that a fraudulent action occurred over a decade ago, the alleged crime can no longer be pursued in court.
- Lack of Evidence: The most crucial factor to a tax evasion conviction is whether or not the defendant willfully paid less taxes or tried to hide their taxable assets from the IRS. In other words, honest mistakes are not considered tax evasion. Prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s actions were willful.
If you have been accused of tax evasion or another felony crime, consult an experienced and knowledgeable federal criminal defense attorney in Tampa. At The Rickman Law Firm, we will assess your case, review important legal rules and regulations related to the charges, and navigate you through the legal system.
For a free consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.