Tax Evasion Lawyers in Lock Haven

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

One of the most common frequent tactics of tax evaders in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is to attempt to make it appear to an outside observer that their tax liability is lower than it really is, such as by concealing income, fraudulently transferring property, and others.

"Tax evasion" should be distinguished from "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the unlawful act of trying to hide one's tax liability. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is perfectly legal, and simply involves using the tax laws strategically, to reduce one's actual tax liability as much as possible.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Under federal and state law, including the laws of Pennsylvania, tax evasion is a very severe crime.

In Lock Haven, the punishments for tax evasion can range from a court order to pay back taxes, plus a small fine, and range all the way up to fines in the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars, and imprisonment.

However, the punishments for tax evasion, especially first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not normally so severe, especially when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.

But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 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 Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 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.

However, if you're really accused of tax evasion, you will need a Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 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.