Tax Evasion Lawyers in Cedar Falls

"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of purposely failing to pay one's taxes, as required by Iowa law.

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Cedar Falls, Iowa. One of the most frequent tactics is to make it appear that the taxpayer has less taxable income than they actually do. There are a wide number of ways to hide income for the purpose of evading one's tax liability, but all of them are illegal.

"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of purposely attempting to get out of one's tax liability through unlawful means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves utilizing 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 Cedar Falls, Iowa

The federal government and the laws of Iowa impose grave penalties for tax evasion - treating it as an extremely serious crime.

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Cedar Falls range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and penalties 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 particularly true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was willful, as opposed to an honest mistake.

However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Cedar Falls, Iowa committed willful 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 Cedar Falls, Iowa Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Cedar Falls, Iowa who practice tax law can help you stay in conformity with your tax commitments. This is a good way to confirm that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

If the government really charges you with tax evasion, it cannot be stressed enough that you need the assistance of a seasoned Cedar Falls, Iowa tax attorney. Assuming you're actually innocent, your tax lawyer can help you prepare a defense, and ensure that you have a good chance of being found not guilty. On top of that, they can make getting through such a difficult time much easier.