Tax Evasion Lawyers in Charleston
In South Carolina, "tax evasion" is a crime that involves a willful failure to pay the taxes that the taxpayer legally owes.
One of the most common prevalent tactics of tax evaders in Charleston, South Carolina is to attempt to make it appear to an outside observer that their tax liability is lower than it truly is, such as by concealing income, fraudulently transferring property, and others.
You may also be acquainted with the term "tax avoidance." It is necessary 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 Charleston, South Carolina
The laws of the federal government, as well as South Carolina take tax evasion quite seriously, making it a crime.
In Charleston, 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.
However, the punishments for tax evasion, particularly first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not typically so severe, particularly 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 establish that a defendant in Charleston, South Carolina 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 Charleston, South Carolina Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in Charleston, South Carolina 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.
Of course, if you've truly been accused of tax evasion, you should hire a Charleston, South Carolina tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.