Tax Evasion Lawyers in Creve Coeur

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

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Creve Coeur, 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 variety 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 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 Creve Coeur, Illinois

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

In Creve Coeur, 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 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 purposeful.

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

A Creve Coeur, Illinois Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

An attorney in Creve Coeur, Illinois specializing in tax law can help you comply 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 Creve Coeur, Illinois tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.