Tax Evasion Lawyers in Germantown
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 Germantown, Maryland will take steps to conceal their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.
You should not confuse "tax evasion" with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is illegal, and involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes which they lawfully owe. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies to lower one's legal tax liability. For example, strategically using deductions and tax credits to lower the amount of money you are legally obliged to pay, is an example of tax avoidance, assuming you actually pay your tax bill, whatever it ends up being.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in Germantown, Maryland
Under the laws of Maryland, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very egregious criminal offense.
Tax evaders in Germantown can be punished by multi-year prison sentences, as well as six-figure fines. Of course, there is a wide range of penalties available, with the ones just mentioned representing the most severe options available.
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 the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Germantown, Maryland committed intentional 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 Germantown, Maryland Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Germantown, 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 a Germantown, Maryland tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.