Tax Evasion Lawyers in Athens
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of intentionally failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Georgia law.
Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Athens, Georgia will take steps to conceal their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.
You may also be acquainted with the term "tax avoidance." It is essential that you don't confuse this with "tax evasion." Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and is probably something that every taxpayer does whenever they file, whether they know it or not. It involves employing legal methods to make one's tax liability as small as possible, taking advantages of deductions and other tax breaks.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in Athens, Georgia
Under the laws of Georgia, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very significant criminal offense.
In Athens, the penalties for tax evasion can range from a court order to pay back taxes, plus a small fine, and range all the way up to penalties in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars, and imprisonment.
However, the punishments for tax evasion, particularly first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not usually so severe, particularly when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.
However, if it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in Athens, Georgia intentionally attempted to conceal income or assets for the purpose of getting out of taxes, a court will probably throw the book at them, so to speak. This can mean jail sentences measured in years, and fines in the six or seven figures.
A Athens, Georgia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Tax lawyers in Athens, Georgia can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.
In the unfortunate event that you're actually charged with tax evasion, it's essential that you hire a qualified tax attorney in Athens, Georgia. 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.