Tax Evasion Lawyers in Pima County

"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of purposely failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Arizona law.

One of the most common common tactics of tax evaders in Pima County, Arizona is to attempt to make it appear to an outside observer that their tax liability is lower than it actually is, such as by concealing income, fraudulently transferring property, and others.

You may also be familiar with the term "tax avoidance." It is crucial that you don't confuse this with "tax evasion." Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and is probably something that every taxpayer does whenever they file, whether they know it or not. It involves employing legal methods to make one's tax liability as small as possible, taking advantages of deductions and other tax breaks.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Pima County, Arizona

The laws of the federal government, as well as Arizona take tax evasion very seriously, making it a crime.

In Pima County, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively small fine, and a court order to pay any back taxes as well as interest, all the way up to financial penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as jail time.

Most often, tax evasion - if it's a first offense and the tax liability is small - will not be cause for huge fines or imprisonment. This is especially true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was purposeful, as opposed to an honest mistake.

But if the government is able to definitively prove that a defendant in Pima County, Arizona intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is highly unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.

A Pima County, Arizona Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Pima County, Arizona who practice tax law can help you stay in compliance with your tax obligations. This is a good way to ensure that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

In the unfortunate event that you're actually charged with tax evasion, it's crucial that you hire a qualified tax attorney in Pima County, Arizona. If you are actually innocent, your tax attorney can help make sure that you have the best chance you can of being found not guilty.