Tax Evasion Lawyers in Boynton Beach
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of knowingly failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Florida law.
Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in Boynton 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 knowingly 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 Boynton Beach, Florida
The federal government and the laws of Florida impose severe penalties for tax evasion - treating it as an extremely serious crime.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Boynton Beach range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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 purposeful, as opposed to an honest mistake.
But if the government is able to definitively establish that a defendant in Boynton 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 Boynton Beach, Florida Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Attorneys in Boynton Beach, 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.
Of course, if you've truly been accused of tax evasion, you should hire a Boynton Beach, Florida tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.