Tax Evasion Lawyers in Decatur
"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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, Illinois
The federal government and the laws of Illinois impose grave penalties for tax evasion - treating it as an extremely serious crime.
In Decatur, the penalties for tax evasion can range from a court order to pay back taxes, plus a small fine, and range all the way up to penalties in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars, and imprisonment.
Usually, an initial offense of tax evasion, if the amount of tax evaded is comparatively small, will not result in jail time or massive fines. This is particularly the case if the government has trouble proving that the failure to pay taxes was the result of intentional evasion, as opposed to an honest error in accounting.
However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Decatur, Illinois committed intentional 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 Decatur, Illinois Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
Attorneys in Decatur, Illinois 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 Decatur, Illinois 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.