Tax Evasion Lawyers in West Salem

Tax evasion is a crime in Wisconsin. Tax evasion involves knowingly failing to pay one's taxes.

One of the most common prevalent tactics of tax evaders in West Salem, Wisconsin 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 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 West Salem, Wisconsin

Under the laws of Wisconsin, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very significant criminal offense.

Punishments for evading one's taxes in West Salem 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.

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 particularly true if the prosecution can't definitively prove that that the defendant's failure to pay taxes was willful, as opposed to an honest mistake.

However, if it can be clearly proven that a person or corporation in West Salem, Wisconsin knowingly attempted to harbor income or assets for the purpose of getting out of taxes, a court will probably throw the book at them, so to speak. This can mean jail sentences measured in years, and fines in the six or seven figures.

A West Salem, Wisconsin Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Attorneys in West Salem, Wisconsin who practice tax law can help you stay in conformity with your tax commitments. This is a good way to confirm that you won't be suspected of tax evasion in the first place.

Of course, if you've truly been accused of tax evasion, you should hire a West Salem, Wisconsin tax lawyer immediately. If you are innocent, a tax attorney will make sure you have the best chance possible at being acquitted.