Tax Evasion Lawyers in Yakima County

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

Normally, tax evasion is accompanied by an attempt to make it appear to the government of Yakima County, 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.

It's important not to confuse "tax avoidance" and "tax evasion." They are two different things, but some people mistakenly use them interchangeably. Tax avoidance involves using legal methods, such as tax deductions and exemptions, in a strategic manner, for the purpose of reducing one's tax liability. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal. Tax evasion involves fraud, and a deliberate attempt to avoid meeting one's legal obligations to pay taxes.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Yakima County, Washington

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

In Yakima County, 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 typically so severe, especially when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.

On the other hand, if the prosecution can establish that a Yakima County, Washington taxpayer engaged in fraud, and knowingly failed to pay their taxes, a tax court will probably impose the most severe punishment that's permitted by law. This can easily involve jail time.

A Yakima County, Washington Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

A tax attorney in Yakima County, Washington 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 precisely what one's tax liability is, and a tax attorney can help.

In the unfortunate event that you're truly charged with tax evasion, it's important that you hire a knowledgeable tax attorney in Yakima County, 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.