Tax Evasion Lawyers in Sedalia

Tax Evasion in Missouri is a criminal act in which someone willfully fails to pay their taxes.

Typically, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Sedalia, Missouri that one's tax liability is lower than it actually is. This can include concealing income, making fraudulent transfers of property, and other illegal activities.

"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of willfully attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies (such as taking advantage of deductions and tax credits) to reduce one's legal tax liability. However, someone engaging in tax avoidance typically intends to pay whatever they end up owing, even as they try to reduce the amount they owe.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Sedalia, Missouri

Under federal and state law, including the laws of Missouri, tax evasion is a very egregious crime.

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Sedalia range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Typically, an initial offense of tax evasion, if the amount of tax evaded is comparatively small, will not result in jail time or massive fines. This is particularly the case if the government has trouble proving that the failure to pay taxes was the result of intentional evasion, as opposed to an honest error in accounting.

However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Sedalia, Missouri committed intentional fraud, in order to evade their legal duty to pay taxes, a tax court is probably going to impose a more severe penalty, which may include jail time, and large financial penalties.

A Sedalia, Missouri Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Sedalia, Missouri can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.

However, if you're actually accused of tax evasion, you will need a Sedalia, Missouri tax attorney more than ever. If you are, in fact, innocent, a tax attorney can give you the best possible chance of being found not guilty.