The more assets you handle, the more complicated your tax returns get. If you are under investigation or facing charges of tax evasion, it is crucial to take immediate steps to protect yourself and your reputation.
Tax evasion is one of the least understood charges currently on the books, and one of the few charges that often targets the most affluent and successful members of society. In many cases, those who face tax evasion charges are not actually guilty of any wrongdoing, only of misinterpreting the tax code, which is monstrously complex.
Simply facing charges of tax evasion is not a reason to go on the run (seriously, don’t do that, it doesn’t look good), but you should absolutely enlist the representation of an attorney with experience in both prosecuting and defending against white collar charges.
With proper legal guidance, you can fully understand the charges you face, and create a strong defense to ensure that your rights are not violated by the legal system or the government.
Regardless of what you may or may not have done, your rights are not negotiable.
Tax evasion can be many things
When you face charges of tax evasion, it probably means that the Internal Revenue Service believes that you failed to pay a rather significant amount of money. Usually, this extends simply to making a few mistakes on your returns and miscalculating what you owe.
As a general rule, mistakes are not considered tax evasion. What may have been a mistake, however, may look like tax evasion, provided it resulted in a large enough reduction in taxes paid.
Proper legal guidance has the requisite experience to evaluate your specific charges and determine how the situation may be a misunderstanding. As we mentioned earlier, the tax code is enormously complex, in ways that most people never experience. If your assets and liabilities are complex, then it is entirely possible that the “evasion” was actually a misinterpretation of the legal bird’s nest that is the United States tax code.
The punishments are rarely fair
However, it is possible that you did break the law. This does not mean that you deserve to serve jail time and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. The penalties for tax evasion are surprisingly harsh for an offense that is non-violent in nature.
As a general rule, a tax evasion conviction can result in $100,000 in fines plus court costs for an individual, or $500,000 for a corporation, on top of potential jail time.
That is often a punishment that destroys an entire career, which is far from fair. Even if you have violated a rule, it is best to fight for a fair resolution that allows you to make the error right and get back to being a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen.
That is a scenario where everyone wins, and is much better to pursue.
Build a team to fight for your rights
Facing tax evasion charges can seem like a game-over. Do not let your fears paralyze you, but rather, take swift action to protect your assets and your career.
With proper legal representation by an attorney with both defense and prosecution experience, you can rest assured that your future and your reputation are in good hands, that your rights remain protected.
