Tax Evasion Lawyers in West Bountiful

Tax evasion is a crime in Utah. Tax evasion involves intentionally failing to pay one's taxes.

Usually, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of West Bountiful, Utah 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.

"Tax evasion" should not be confused with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is the act of intentionally attempting to get out of one's tax liability through unlawful 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 West Bountiful, Utah

The federal government and the laws of Utah impose severe penalties for tax evasion - treating it as an extremely serious crime.

In West Bountiful, tax evasion can result in anything from a relatively 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.

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.

But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in West Bountiful, Utah 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 West Bountiful, Utah Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in West Bountiful, Utah can ensure that you meet your tax liabilities, which will make an audit, or charge of tax evasion, less likely. Sometimes, it's difficult to determine clearly what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.

If you find yourself really accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a West Bountiful, Utah attorney with experience practicing tax law, as soon as possible. Your tax attorney can help you defend yourself against the charges, ensuring that you have a good chance at being acquitted.