Tampa Tax Fraud Lawyer
Tax fraud is a serious crime that happens often. That’s because nobody likes paying taxes, and while most people just deal with it, there is a large number of people who try to avoid paying up. They may engage in elaborate schemes in order to defraud the government.
Tax fraud occurs when an individual or business entity intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit their tax liability. Tax fraud involves cheating on a tax return in an attempt to avoid paying so much in taxes.
Tax fraud is a serious crime. In the United States, taxpayers have a legal duty to file a tax return and pay the correct amount of income, employment, sales, and excise taxes. Failure to do so by falsifying or withholding information constitutes tax fraud. Tax fraud is investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (CI) unit.
Have you been investigated or arrested? If so, you need to defend yourself. A Tampa tax fraud lawyer from Scriven Law, P.A. can provide you with the legal help you need.
Examples of Tax Fraud
Tax fraud can happen in many ways. It includes the following:
- Refusing to file individual income tax returns
- A self-employed individual failing to report all income received
- Filing an individual income tax return and understating the amount of income that was earned
- Overstating the number of dependents on an individual income tax return
- Filing an individual income tax return claiming to be a resident of another state
- Making false or fraudulent claims for refunds
- Failing to maintain records that show the true income and expenses of a business
- Payment of cash wages to employees for the purpose of avoiding state taxes
- Opening and closing of new businesses to evade taxes
- Operating a business using someone else’s name to avoid taxes
Tax Evasion vs. Tax Avoidance
Tax evasion and tax avoidance are not the same thing. In fact, tax avoidance is legal, while tax evasion is not legal.
Tax evasion is essentially fraud, while tax avoidance is not. In fact, the IRS allows eligible taxpayers to claim certain deductions and credits. Some examples include deductions for child care expenses or college tuition or credits for dependents or interest paid on a mortgage. There are many ways people can legally limit the tax they pay but they must be able to prove that they qualify.
Those who have questions about tax laws and filling out tax returns should contact a certified public accountant or other financial professional.
Contact Scriven Law Today
It is important to understand and follow state and federal tax laws. Evading taxes through deceit is against the law and can result in harsh consequences.
If you are facing charges, seek legal help from a Tampa tax fraud lawyer from Scriven Law, P.A. We will gather evidence to prove your case and reduce or eliminate your charges. Schedule a consultation today by calling 813-226-8522 or filling out the online form.
