Tax Evasion Lawyers in Duluth
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of deliberately failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Georgia law.
Most commonly, people who try to evade their taxes in Duluth, Georgia will take steps to hide their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.
You may also be familiar with the term "tax avoidance." It is important 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 Duluth, Georgia
Under the laws of Georgia, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very serious criminal offense.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Duluth 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.
In the majority of tax evasion cases, however, the punishments are not so severe. This is especially likely in first offenses, when the amount of money involved is fairly small. Minor punishments for tax evasion usually mean a small fine, on top of an order to pay whatever taxes the taxpayer owes. A minor punishment is most likely when the government has trouble proving that fraud was involved, as opposed to an honest accounting error.
But, if the government can prove that a defendant in Duluth, Georgia deliberately 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 Duluth, Georgia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
An attorney in Duluth, Georgia specializing in tax law can help you comply with all the tax laws that apply to you, which makes it very unlikely that you'll ever be accused of tax evasion in the first place.
If you find yourself really accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Duluth, Georgia 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.