Tax Evasion Lawyers in New Martinsville

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

One of the most common frequent tactics of tax evaders in New Martinsville, West Virginia is to attempt to make it appear to an outside observer that their tax liability is lower than it really 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 New Martinsville, West Virginia

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

Punishments for evading one's taxes in New Martinsville 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 normally 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 can prove that a defendant in New Martinsville, West 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 New Martinsville, West Virginia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

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

If the government really charges you with tax evasion, it cannot be stressed enough that you need the assistance of a seasoned New Martinsville, West Virginia tax attorney. Assuming you're actually innocent, your tax lawyer can help you prepare a defense, and ensure that you have a good chance of being found not guilty. On top of that, they can make getting through such a difficult time much easier.