Tax Evasion Lawyers in Delray Beach
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of willfully failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Florida law.
Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in Delray Beach, Florida will take steps to harbor 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 willfully attempting to get out of one's tax liability through prohibited means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves using 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 Delray Beach, Florida
Under federal and state law, including the laws of Florida, tax evasion is a very serious crime.
In Delray Beach, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively small fine, and a court order to pay any back taxes as well as interest, all the way up to financial penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as jail time.
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 especially true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was deliberate, as opposed to an honest mistake.
But if the government is able to definitively establish that a defendant in Delray Beach, Florida 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 Delray Beach, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Delray Beach, Florida 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 precisely what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.
In the unfortunate event that you're truly charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in Delray Beach, Florida. 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.