Tax Evasion Lawyers in Southington
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of knowingly failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Connecticut law.
Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Southington, Connecticut will take steps to conceal their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.
"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of knowingly attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal 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 Southington, Connecticut
Under the laws of Connecticut, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very egregious criminal offense.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Southington 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 intentional, as opposed to an honest mistake.
But if the government is able to definitively prove that a defendant in Southington, Connecticut intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is very unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.
A Southington, Connecticut Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
An attorney in Southington, Connecticut specializing in tax law can help you adhere with all the tax laws that apply to you, which makes it very unlikely that you'll ever be accused of tax evasion in the first place.
If you find yourself actually accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Southington, Connecticut 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.