Tax Evasion Lawyers in Oakland Park

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

Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Oakland Park, Florida will take steps to conceal their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.

You should not confuse "tax evasion" with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is illegal, and involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes which they lawfully owe. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is legal, and involves using legal strategies to lower one's legal tax liability. For example, strategically using deductions and tax credits to lower the amount of money you are legally obliged to pay, is an example of tax avoidance, assuming you actually pay your tax bill, whatever it ends up being.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Oakland Park, Florida

Both federal law and the law of Florida treat tax evasion as a serious criminal offense.

In Oakland Park, 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.

In the majority of tax evasion cases, however, the punishments are not so severe. This is especially likely in first offenses, when the amount of money involved is fairly small. Minor punishments for tax evasion typically mean a small fine, on top of an order to pay whatever taxes the taxpayer owes. A minor punishment is most likely when the government has trouble proving that fraud was involved, as opposed to an honest accounting error.

But, if the government can prove that a defendant in Oakland Park, Florida 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 Oakland Park, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Oakland Park, Florida who practice tax law can help you stay in compliance with your tax obligations. This is a good way to ensure that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

In the unfortunate event that you're actually charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a qualified tax attorney in Oakland Park, 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.