Tax Evasion Lawyers in Stuart

"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 Stuart, 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 utilizing 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 Stuart, Florida

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

In Stuart, tax evasion can result in anything from a comparatively 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, especially 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 intentional.

However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Stuart, Florida committed intentional 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 Stuart, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Stuart, Florida can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.

Of course, if you've truly been accused of tax evasion, you should hire a Stuart, Florida tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.