Tax Evasion Lawyers in Melrose

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

Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in Melrose, Massachusetts will take steps to harbor their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.

"Tax evasion" should be distinguished from "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the prohibited act of trying to hide one's tax liability. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is perfectly legal, and simply involves utilizing the tax laws strategically, to reduce one's actual tax liability as much as possible.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Melrose, Massachusetts

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

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Melrose 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 intentional, as opposed to an honest mistake.

However, if it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in Melrose, Massachusetts knowingly attempted to harbor income or assets for the purpose of getting out of taxes, a court will probably throw the book at them, so to speak. This can mean jail sentences measured in years, and fines in the six or seven figures.

A Melrose, Massachusetts Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Melrose, Massachusetts can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.

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