Tax Evasion Lawyers in Bel Air
In Maryland "tax evasion" is the crime of failing to pay the taxes that they owe.
Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in Bel Air, Maryland 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 using the tax laws strategically, to reduce one's actual tax liability as much as possible.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in Bel Air, Maryland
Under federal and state law, including the laws of Maryland, tax evasion is a very severe crime.
Punishments for evading one's taxes in Bel Air range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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 can prove that a defendant in Bel Air, Maryland deliberately concealed income, in order to get out of paying taxes, a court will most likely impose the heaviest penalties allowed by law, including enormous fines, and several years in prison.
A Bel Air, Maryland Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Bel Air, Maryland can ensure that you meet your tax liabilities, which will make an audit, or charge of tax evasion, less likely. Sometimes, it's difficult to determine precisely what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.
In the unfortunate event that you're truly charged with tax evasion, it's imperative that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in Bel Air, Maryland. 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.