Tax Evasion Lawyers in Durango

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

Usually, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Durango, Colorado 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.

You may also be familiar with the term "tax avoidance." It is necessary 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 Durango, Colorado

Under the laws of Colorado, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very severe criminal offense.

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

However, the punishments for tax evasion, especially first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not normally so severe, especially 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 Durango, Colorado willfully 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 Durango, Colorado Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

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

In the unfortunate event that you're really charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a reliable tax attorney in Durango, Colorado. 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.