Tax Evasion Lawyers in Aberdeen
Within Maryland "tax evasion" is the crime of failing to pay the taxes that they owe.
Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Aberdeen, Maryland will take steps to conceal 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 illegal 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 Aberdeen, Maryland
Under federal and state law, including the laws of Maryland, tax evasion is a very significant crime.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Aberdeen 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.
However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Aberdeen, Maryland 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 Aberdeen, Maryland Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Aberdeen, Maryland 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 exactly what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.
Of course, if you've actually been accused of tax evasion, you should contact an Aberdeen, Maryland tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.