Tax Evasion Lawyers in Bristol
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of purposely failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Connecticut law.
Usually, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Bristol, Connecticut 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 crucial 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 Bristol, Connecticut
The laws of the federal government, as well as Connecticut take tax evasion extremely seriously, making it a crime.
In Bristol, the punishments for tax evasion can range from a court order to pay back taxes, plus a small fine, and range all the way up to fines in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars, and imprisonment.
Usually, a first offense of tax evasion, if the amount of tax evaded is relatively small, will not result in jail time or massive fines. This is especially the case if the government has trouble proving that the failure to pay taxes was the result of deliberate evasion, as opposed to an honest error in accounting.
But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in Bristol, Connecticut intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is highly unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.
A Bristol, Connecticut Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A Bristol, Connecticut attorney who specializes in tax law can help ensure that you are in compliance with all applicable tax laws, making an accusation of tax evasion less likely.
In the unfortunate event that you're really charged with tax evasion, it's crucial that you hire a reliable tax attorney in Bristol, Connecticut. 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.