Tax Evasion Lawyers in San Rafael
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of purposely failing to pay one's taxes, as required by California law.
Typically, the strategy employed by tax evaders in San Rafael, 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.
It's important not to confuse "tax avoidance" and "tax evasion." They are two different things, but some people mistakenly use them interchangeably. Tax avoidance involves utilizing legal methods, such as tax deductions and exemptions, in a strategic manner, for the purpose of reducing one's tax liability. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion involves fraud, and a deliberate attempt to avoid meeting one's legal commitments to pay taxes.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in San Rafael, California
Both federal law and the law of California treat tax evasion as a serious criminal offense.
Tax evaders in San Rafael can be punished by multi-year prison sentences, as well as six-figure fines. Of course, there is a wide range of penalties available, with the ones just mentioned representing the most severe options available.
However, the punishments for tax evasion, particularly first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not usually so severe, particularly when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.
But, if the government can prove that a defendant in San Rafael, California purposely concealed income, in order to get out of paying taxes, a court will most likely impose the heaviest penalties allowed by law, including enormous fines, and several years in prison.
A San Rafael, California Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Tax lawyers in San Rafael, California 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 San Rafael, California 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.