Tax Evasion Lawyers in Hinesville
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of willfully failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Georgia law.
Most commonly, people who try to evade their taxes in Hinesville, 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 acquainted with the term "tax avoidance." It is necessary 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 Hinesville, Georgia
Both federal law and the law of Georgia treat tax evasion as a severe criminal offense.
The penalties for tax evasion in Hinesville can range anywhere from small penalties to huge penalties, along with prison sentences of several years.
In most cases, especially when the amount of taxes evaded is small, and it's a first offense, the punishment will normally be fairly mild. It will normally 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 it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in Hinesville, Georgia willfully attempted to hide 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 Hinesville, Georgia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
An attorney in Hinesville, Georgia specializing in tax law can help you adhere 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.
Of course, if you've really been accused of tax evasion, you should retain a Hinesville, Georgia tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.