Tax Evasion Lawyers in West Covina
"Tax Evasion" refers to the crime of intentionally failing to pay one's taxes, as required by California law.
Usually, the strategy employed by tax evaders in West Covina, California is to try and make it look like they have less taxable income than they actually do. This can be done by failing to report income, concealing it, or fraudulently transferring property.
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 utilizing 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 commitments to pay taxes.
Penalties for Tax Evasion in West Covina, California
Under federal and state law, including the laws of California, tax evasion is a very egregious crime.
The penalties for tax evasion in West Covina can range anywhere from small penalties to huge penalties, along with prison sentences of several years.
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 intentional, as opposed to an honest mistake.
But if the government is able to definitively show that a defendant in West Covina, California 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 West Covina, California Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help
A tax attorney in West Covina, California 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.
In the unfortunate event that you're really charged with tax evasion, it's essential that you hire a reliable tax attorney in West Covina, California. 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.