Tax Evasion Lawyers in Burke County

Tax Evasion in North Carolina is a criminal act in which someone purposely fails to pay their taxes.

Normally, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Burke County, North Carolina 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.

You may also be familiar with the term "tax avoidance." It is crucial 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 Burke County, North Carolina

The laws of the federal government, as well as North Carolina take tax evasion quite seriously, making it a crime.

In Burke County, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively small fine, and a court order to pay any back taxes as well as interest, all the way up to financial penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as jail time.

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 especially true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was purposeful, as opposed to an honest mistake.

But if the government is able to definitively establish that a defendant in Burke County, North Carolina intentionally engaged in fraud to get out of paying taxes, a tax court is highly unlikely to show any leniency, and may well sentence the defendant to prison time.

A Burke County, North Carolina Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in Burke County, North Carolina 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.

If you find yourself truly accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Burke County, North Carolina attorney with experience practicing tax law, as soon as possible. Your tax attorney can help you defend yourself against the charges, ensuring that you have a good chance at being acquitted.