Tax Evasion Lawyers in Baton Rouge
Within Louisiana "tax evasion" is the crime of failing to pay the taxes that they owe.
Usually, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is to try and make it look like they have less taxable income than they actually do. This can be done by failing to report income, concealing it, or fraudulently transferring property.
You may also be acquainted with the term "tax avoidance." It is necessary that you don't confuse this with "tax evasion." Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and is probably something that every taxpayer does whenever they file, whether they know it or not. It involves employing legal methods to make one's tax liability as small as possible, taking advantages of deductions and other tax breaks.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Under the laws of Louisiana, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very significant criminal offense.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Baton Rouge range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Most often, tax evasion - if it's a first offense and the tax liability is small - will not be cause for huge fines or imprisonment. This is particularly true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was willful, as opposed to an honest mistake.
But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 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 Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana can ensure that you meet your tax liabilities, which will make an audit, or charge of tax evasion, less likely. Sometimes, it's challenging to determine clearly what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.
In the unfortunate event that you're really charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a reliable tax attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 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.