Tax Evasion Lawyers in Long Beach
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of deliberately failing to pay one's taxes, as required by California law.
Usually, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Long Beach, California is to try and make it look like they have less taxable income than they actually do. This can be done by failing to report income, concealing it, or fraudulently transferring property.
"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of deliberately attempting to get out of one's tax liability through unlawful 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 Long Beach, California
Under federal and state law, including the laws of California, tax evasion is a very significant crime.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Long Beach 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.
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.
However, if it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in Long Beach, California deliberately attempted to hide income or assets for the purpose of getting out of taxes, a court will probably throw the book at them, so to speak. This can mean jail sentences measured in years, and fines in the six or seven figures.
A Long Beach, California Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Tax lawyers in Long Beach, California can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.
If you find yourself really accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Long Beach, California attorney with expertise practicing tax law, as soon as possible. Your tax attorney can help you defend yourself against the charges, ensuring that you have a good chance at being acquitted.