Tax Evasion Lawyers in Metuchen

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

Most frequently, people who try to evade their taxes in Metuchen, New Jersey 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 utilizing the tax laws strategically, to reduce one's actual tax liability as much as possible.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Metuchen, New Jersey

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

In Metuchen, 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 typically be fairly mild. It will typically 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 establish that a defendant in Metuchen, New Jersey 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 Metuchen, New Jersey Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in Metuchen, New Jersey 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 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 essential that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in Metuchen, New Jersey. 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.