Tax Evasion Lawyers in Deridder

In Louisiana "tax evasion" is the crime of failing to pay the taxes that they owe.

Normally, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Deridder, 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 familiar with the term "tax avoidance." It is crucial 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 Deridder, Louisiana

Both federal law and the law of Louisiana treat tax evasion as a significant criminal offense.

In Deridder, 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.

However, the punishments for tax evasion, especially first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not typically so severe, especially when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.

But if the government is able to definitively establish that a defendant in Deridder, Louisiana 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 Deridder, Louisiana Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Deridder, Louisiana who practice tax law can help you stay in compliance with your tax obligations. This is a good way to ensure that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

Of course, if you've truly been accused of tax evasion, you should hire a Deridder, Louisiana tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.