Tax Evasion Lawyers in Houma

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

Typically, the strategy employed by tax evaders in Houma, 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 Houma, Louisiana

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

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Houma 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.

Typically, 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 willful evasion, as opposed to an honest error in accounting.

However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Houma, Louisiana committed willful 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 Houma, Louisiana Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Houma, Louisiana 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.

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