Tax Evasion Lawyers in Ithaca
Tax Evasion in New York is a criminal act in which someone intentionally fails to pay their taxes.
Most often, people who try to evade their taxes in Ithaca, New York 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 essential 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 Ithaca, New York
The federal government and the laws of New York impose grave penalties for tax evasion - treating it as an extremely serious crime.
In Ithaca, 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 the majority of tax evasion cases, however, the punishments are not so severe. This is particularly likely in first offenses, when the amount of money involved is fairly small. Minor punishments for tax evasion typically mean a small fine, on top of an order to pay whatever taxes the taxpayer owes. A minor punishment is most likely when the government has trouble proving that fraud was involved, as opposed to an honest accounting error.
However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Ithaca, New York 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 Ithaca, New York Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Ithaca, New York 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.
If the government actually charges you with tax evasion, it cannot be stressed enough that you need the assistance of a reputable Ithaca, New York tax attorney. Assuming you're actually innocent, your tax lawyer can help you prepare a defense, and ensure that you have a good chance of being found not guilty. On top of that, they can make getting through such a difficult time much easier.