Tax Evasion Lawyers in Bedford

Tax evasion is a crime in Virginia. Tax evasion involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes.

Typically, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Bedford, Virginia 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 deliberately attempting to get out of one's tax liability through illegal means. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal, and involves utilizing 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 Bedford, Virginia

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

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Bedford range from paying back taxes plus interest (a relatively mild punishment) all the way up to years in prison, and penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Typically, an initial offense of tax evasion, if the amount of tax evaded is comparatively small, will not result in jail time or massive fines. This is particularly the case if the government has trouble proving that the failure to pay taxes was the result of intentional evasion, as opposed to an honest error in accounting.

But, if the government can prove that a defendant in Bedford, Virginia deliberately concealed income, in order to get out of paying taxes, a court will most likely impose the heaviest penalties allowed by law, including enormous fines, and several years in prison.

A Bedford, Virginia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

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

If you find yourself actually accused of tax evasion, and are innocent, you should hire a Bedford, Virginia attorney with expertise 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.