Tax Evasion Lawyers in Winston

In Oregon, "tax evasion" is a crime that involves a purposeful failure to pay the taxes that the taxpayer legally owes.

Usually, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Winston, Oregon 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 acquainted 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 Winston, Oregon

Both federal law and the law of Oregon treat tax evasion as a severe criminal offense.

In Winston, tax evasion can result in anything from a comparatively 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.

In most cases, especially when the amount of taxes evaded is small, and it's a first offense, the punishment will normally be fairly mild. It will normally 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.

However, if the relevant tax authorities are able to demonstrate that a taxpayer in Winston, Oregon 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 Winston, Oregon Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Winston, Oregon can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.

However, if you're really accused of tax evasion, you will need a Winston, Oregon tax attorney more than ever. If you are, in fact, innocent, a tax attorney can give you the best possible chance of being found not guilty.