Tax Evasion Lawyers in Montpelier

Tax evasion is a crime in Vermont. Tax evasion involves willfully failing to pay one's taxes.

Normally, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Montpelier, Vermont 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.

You should not confuse "tax evasion" with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is illegal, and involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes which they lawfully owe. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies to lower one's legal tax liability. For example, strategically using deductions and tax credits to lower the amount of money you are legally obliged to pay, is an example of tax avoidance, assuming you actually pay your tax bill, whatever it ends up being.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Montpelier, Vermont

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

In Montpelier, tax evasion can result in anything from a comparatively 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 particularly true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was willful, as opposed to an honest mistake.

On the other hand, if the prosecution can establish that a Montpelier, Vermont taxpayer engaged in fraud, and knowingly failed to pay their taxes, a tax court will probably impose the most grave punishment that's permitted by law. This can easily involve jail time.

A Montpelier, Vermont Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in Montpelier, Vermont can ensure that you meet your tax liabilities, which will make an audit, or charge of tax evasion, less likely. Sometimes, it's challenging to determine precisely what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.

If the government truly charges you with tax evasion, it cannot be stressed enough that you need the assistance of a reliable Montpelier, Vermont tax attorney. Assuming you're actually innocent, your tax lawyer can help you prepare a defense, and ensure that you have a good chance of being found not guilty. On top of that, they can make getting through such a difficult time much easier.