Tax Evasion Lawyers in Cuyahoga County

Tax Evasion in Ohio is a criminal act in which someone willfully fails to pay their taxes.

There are a few strategies that tax evaders use in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. One of the most common tactics is to make it appear that the taxpayer has less taxable income than they actually do. There are a wide variety of ways to conceal income for the purpose of evading one's tax liability, but all of them are illegal.

"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of willfully attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves using 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 Cuyahoga County, Ohio

The laws of the federal government, as well as Ohio take tax evasion very seriously, making it a crime.

Tax evaders in Cuyahoga County can be punished by multi-year prison sentences, as well as six-figure fines. Of course, there is a wide range of punishments available, with the ones just mentioned representing the most severe options available.

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 deliberate, as opposed to an honest mistake.

However, if it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in Cuyahoga County, Ohio willfully attempted to conceal income or assets for the purpose of getting out of taxes, a court will probably throw the book at them, so to speak. This can mean jail sentences measured in years, and fines in the six or seven figures.

A Cuyahoga County, Ohio Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Cuyahoga County, Ohio who practice tax law can help you stay in compliance with your tax obligations. This is a good way to ensure that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

Of course, if you've actually been accused of tax evasion, you should contact a Cuyahoga County, Ohio tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.