Tax Evasion Lawyers in Battle Ground

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

Normally, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Battle Ground, Washington 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 should not confuse "tax evasion" with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is illegal, and involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes which they lawfully owe. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies to lower one's legal tax liability. For example, strategically using deductions and tax credits to lower the amount of money you are legally obliged to pay, is an example of tax avoidance, assuming you actually pay your tax bill, whatever it ends up being.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Battle Ground, Washington

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

Punishments for evading one's taxes in Battle Ground 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.

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 Battle Ground, Washington 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 Battle Ground, Washington Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A Battle Ground, Washington attorney who concentrates in tax law can help ensure that you are in conformity with all applicable tax laws, making an accusation of tax evasion less likely.

In the unfortunate event that you're truly charged with tax evasion, it's imperative that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in Battle Ground, Washington. If you are actually innocent, your tax attorney can help make sure that you have the best chance you can of being found not guilty.