Tax Evasion Lawyers in Dowagiac

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

Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Dowagiac, Michigan will take steps to conceal their assets and income, or transferring their property to other legal entities in a fraudulent manner.

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 Dowagiac, Michigan

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

In Dowagiac, the penalties for tax evasion can range from a court order to pay back taxes, plus a small fine, and range all the way up to penalties in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars, and imprisonment.

In most cases, especially when the amount of taxes evaded is small, and it's a first offense, the punishment will usually be fairly mild. It will usually result in an order to pay the taxes the defendant owes, plus a small financial penalty. This is especially likely when it cannot be proven that the failure to pay taxes was intentional.

But if the government is able to definitively prove that a defendant in Dowagiac, Michigan intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is very unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.

A Dowagiac, Michigan Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in Dowagiac, Michigan 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.

In the unfortunate event that you're actually charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a qualified tax attorney in Dowagiac, Michigan. 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.