Tax Evasion Lawyers in St. Pete Beach

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

Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in St. Pete Beach, 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 St. Pete Beach, Florida

Under federal and state law, including the laws of Florida, tax evasion is a very severe crime.

In St. Pete 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.

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 purposeful.

But, if the government can prove that a defendant in St. Pete Beach, Florida purposely 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 St. Pete Beach, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in St. Pete Beach, Florida can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more easily, and comply with federal and local tax laws.

In the unfortunate event that you're truly charged with tax evasion, it's crucial that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in St. Pete 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.