Tax Evasion Lawyers in St Louis County

Tax Evasion in Missouri is a criminal act in which someone intentionally fails to pay their taxes.

Typically, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of St Louis County, Missouri that one's tax liability is lower than it actually is. This can include concealing income, making fraudulent transfers of property, and other illegal activities.

"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of intentionally attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies (such as taking advantage of deductions and tax credits) to reduce one's legal tax liability. However, someone engaging in tax avoidance typically intends to pay whatever they end up owing, even as they try to reduce the amount they owe.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in St Louis County, Missouri

Under federal and state law, including the laws of Missouri, tax evasion is a very egregious crime.

Punishments for evading one's taxes in St Louis County 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.

But if the government is able to definitively prove that a defendant in St Louis County, Missouri 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 St Louis County, Missouri Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in St Louis County, Missouri 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 essential that you hire a qualified tax attorney in St Louis County, Missouri. 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.