Tax Evasion Lawyers in Cortland

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

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Cortland, 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 variety 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 using 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 obligations to pay taxes.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Cortland, Illinois

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

In Cortland, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively 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, particularly 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 deliberate.

But, if the government can prove that a defendant in Cortland, Illinois knowingly 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 Cortland, Illinois Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Cortland, Illinois can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more easily, and comply with federal and local tax laws.

However, if you're actually accused of tax evasion, you will need a Cortland, Illinois tax attorney more than ever. If you are, in fact, innocent, a tax attorney can give you the best possible chance of being found not guilty.