Tax Evasion Lawyers in Crestwood

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

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Crestwood, Illinois. 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.

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 Crestwood, Illinois

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

In Crestwood, 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 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.

But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in Crestwood, 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 Crestwood, Illinois Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A Crestwood, Illinois attorney who concentrates in tax law can help ensure that you are in conformity with all applicable tax laws, making an accusation of tax evasion less likely.

In the unfortunate event that you're really charged with tax evasion, it's essential that you hire a reliable tax attorney in Crestwood, Illinois. If you are actually innocent, your tax attorney can help make sure that you have the best chance you can of being found not guilty.