Tax Evasion Lawyers in Sarasota
"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 Sarasota, Florida will take steps to harbor 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 Sarasota, Florida
Both federal law and the law of Florida treat tax evasion as a significant criminal offense.
Tax evaders in Sarasota can be punished by multi-year prison sentences, as well as six-figure fines. Of course, there is a wide range of punishments available, with the ones just mentioned representing the most severe options available.
In most cases, particularly when the amount of taxes evaded is small, and it's a first offense, the punishment will typically be fairly mild. It will typically result in an order to pay the taxes the defendant owes, plus a small financial penalty. This is especially likely when it cannot be proven that the failure to pay taxes was deliberate.
However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Sarasota, Florida committed deliberate fraud, in order to evade their legal duty to pay taxes, a tax court is probably going to impose a more severe penalty, which may include jail time, and large financial penalties.
A Sarasota, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A Sarasota, Florida 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.
If you find yourself truly accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Sarasota, Florida attorney with experience 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.