Tax Evasion Lawyers in Barrington Hills

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

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Barrington Hills, Illinois. One of the most common 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 conceal income for the purpose of evading one's tax liability, but all of them are illegal.

It's important not to confuse "tax avoidance" and "tax evasion." They are two different things, but some people mistakenly use them interchangeably. Tax avoidance involves utilizing legal methods, such as tax deductions and exemptions, in a strategic manner, for the purpose of reducing one's tax liability. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion involves fraud, and a deliberate attempt to avoid meeting one's legal commitments to pay taxes.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Barrington Hills, Illinois

Both federal law and the law of Illinois treat tax evasion as a serious criminal offense.

In Barrington Hills, tax evasion can result in anything from a comparatively small fine, and a court order to pay any back taxes as well as interest, all the way up to financial penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as jail time.

In most cases, especially when the amount of taxes evaded is small, and it's a first offense, the punishment will usually be fairly mild. It will usually 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 willful.

But if the government is able to definitively prove that a defendant in Barrington Hills, Illinois intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is very unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.

A Barrington Hills, Illinois Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

An attorney in Barrington Hills, Illinois 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 actually been accused of tax evasion, you should contact a Barrington Hills, Illinois tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.