It’s tax season and the filing deadline is creeping closer. Tax fraud occurs when someone willfully and intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit the amount of taxes they are expected to pay. Consider it like cheating on an exam – except it’s your taxes and instead of getting a good grade you’re attempting to avoid paying your entire tax obligation.
Here are some of ways tax fraud is often committed:
· Submitting fraudulent tax records
· Helping another to submit fraudulent tax records
· Falsifying records in order to evade tax responsibilities
· Failure to file taxes
· Failure to report correct gross and exempt sales
· Failure to pay taxes owed
· Making false claims on sales tax returns
When it comes to tax fraud, it’s the IRS who will generally come after you and as the saying goes: There are two things you can’t avoid – death and taxes. When it comes to making sure your taxes are filed properly, the U.S. government doesn’t play around.
How you are charged depends on the crime and the type of money that is involved. Of course, the more serious the monetary amount, the more substantial the fines and penalties will be.
Here’s a rough guide for how the penalties are given:
- $301 – $20,000:
- 3rd degree felony
- 5 years in prison
- $5,000 in fines
- $20,001 –$100,000:
- 2nd degree felony
- 15 years in prison
- $10,000 in fines
- More than $100,000:
- 1st degree felony
- 30 years in prison
- $10,000 in fines
If you’ve committed any type of tax fraud, whether on purpose or accidentally and are being questioned by authorities then it might be time for you to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Russell Spatz has decades of experience and knows the proper laws inside and out. Give him a call today at 305-442-0200.