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The American tax system is built on voluntary compliance which requires taxpayers to report and pay what they owe. However, the IRS also takes steps to ensure that this voluntary compliance occurs. When they discover evidence of tax fraud or evasion, an investigation could begin.
If you are facing allegations of tax fraud or evasion, it is vital you seek guidance from a skilled tax lawyer today. These issues are serious but there are often ways to resolve them before a criminal investigation occurs. Let a Bethesda tax fraud and evasion lawyer favorably guide you through an IRS investigation.
The term “tax fraud” is broad and commonly used to describe a range of behaviors. In general, tax fraud occurs when a taxpayer avoids the appropriate calculation of their tax burden or evades the payment of what they actually owe to the IRS. Tax fraud investigations often result from the findings of an IRS audit and need to be taken seriously. While these are often civil matters, there are situations where a taxpayer has criminal exposure.
Criminal investigations are carried out by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, or CID. A tax fraud investigation will be thorough, and agents will often come to a taxpayer’s home or their place of work in search of tax documents and other evidence. At the conclusion of the investigation, special agents will make a report and recommend a plan of action. In some extreme cases, the outcome could be prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.
It is often possible to resolve civil or even criminal tax fraud allegations, although it will require more than simply correcting errors. A Bethesda tax fraud and evasion attorney could pursue a fair outcome to the investigation that results in the closure of any criminal or civil cases.
When the IRS investigates fraud, they look for any number of signs. These signs—commonly referred to as “badges of fraud”—are all potential indicators that illegal activity has occurred. Some of the common badges of fraud include:
A taxpayer in Bethesda who is being investigated for fraud should consult a lawyer immediately and discuss if any of this behavior applies to them.
Different consequences can arise from a tax fraud investigation, with the penalties potentially being civil or criminal in nature. A Bethesda attorney could use their knowledge of tax fraud and evasion laws to steer an investigation away from criminal exposure by working with the taxpayer and the IRS to amicably resolve the matter.
The consequences of a civil case do not involve the threat of prison but that does not mean they should be taken lightly. Civil penalties are financial in nature and a fraudulent underpayment of tax can result in a 75% penalty for the amount that was underpaid.
There are several criminal punishments related to tax fraud. If a taxpayer does not file a return or does not pay the tax amount owed, they could receive a fine of up to $25,000 and prison sentence of up to 12 months. The punishment for overtly attempting to evade tax (such as underreporting income) can lead to either a $100,000 fine or a prison sentence of five years. Given the significant nature of these punishments, a lawyer in Bethesda is necessary to help navigate a sensitive tax fraud or evasion inquiry.
If you have concerns that you may have committed tax fraud without willful intent, you should protect your interests by call a Bethesda tax fraud and evasion lawyer immediately. There may still be time to correct these mistakes and prevent the IRS from commencing a criminal investigation. Whether you need to file missing tax returns, remit your business’s trust fund taxes to the government, or pay the tax that you owe, Pontius Tax Law can provide a comprehensive analysis of your situation. Give us a call to discuss your next steps.
Pontius Tax Law, PLLC is a tax law firm that strives to resolve sensitive tax problems through trust, dedication and value. The law firm was founded by John Pontius with offices in Washington, DC, Rockville, MD, Bethesda, MD, Fairfax, VA, and Alexandria, VA. Mr. Pontius represents individual and business clients with sensitive and serious tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. His client base is local, national, and international.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Pontius has represented businesses and individuals with complex tax issues in the following areas: FBAR examinations, offshore and domestic disclosures, FATCA, FIRPTA, tax planning, unfiled tax returns, release of tax liens and levies, trust fund recovery penalty, IRS and state audit examinations, as well as appeals, penalty abatement, U.S. Tax Court litigation, along with defense of tax fraud and evasion. If you require assistance from a tax lawyer, contact Mr. Pontius to discuss your situation.
