Scranton Tax Evasion Lawyer

Delivering Sound Counsel in Lackawanna County

If you're being investigated for or have been charged with tax evasion, it's crucial to have an attorney on your side fighting to protect your rights and best interests. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and federal agents and prosecutors take these crimes seriously. They will conduct a detailed investigation and aggressively pursue the matter to seek maximum penalties. A conviction could result in a federal judge sentencing you to years in prison and/or ordering you to pay thousands of dollars in fines. Additionally, other penalties may be imposed upon you.

At Rogan Law, our Scranton tax evasion lawyer understands the severity of this type of charge. That is why we provide serious defense to challenge the accusations. These cases are very complex, as they often involve a significant amount of paperwork and an in-depth understanding of tax law. When we take on your case, we will meticulously examine every detail to identify weaknesses in proof. By discussing the situation with you, we'll learn about the matter from your perspective and build a persuasive legal strategy for your unique needs. You can be confident that we will do everything in our legal power to seek the best possible outcome on your behalf.

Schedule a free consultation with our firm by calling (570) 906-8532 or submitting an online contact form today.

What Is Tax Evasion?

Tax evasion occurs when a person engages in illegal activity to avoid paying the taxes they owe. The offense may involve willful nonpayment or underpayment of tax liability. This means that whether an individual has not paid their taxes or have paid only a portion, they may be investigated for, and possibly convicted of, evasion.

A simple mistake when completing or filing taxes may not result in a criminal charge. The law concerning tax evasion (26 U.S.C. § 7201) provides that an individual must have willfully engaged in illegal practices for their conduct to be considered an offense, meaning the person must have known what they were doing and, by such action, intended to defraud the IRS and evade satisfying their tax liability.

Several types of conduct may be considered tax evasion, such as:

• Concealing assets
• Underreporting income
• Failing to report overseas income
• Not reporting cash income
• Inflating deductions

Often, "tax evasion" is confused with "tax avoidance." But it's important to note that these are two different types of conduct. As mentioned earlier, tax evasion is unlawful. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, refers to legal practices that minimize tax liability. A person may lawfully avoid taxes by taking advantage of deductions and credits defined in the IRS tax code.

Tax avoidance may be achieved in various ways, including:

• Taking allowed tax deductions
• Giving to charities
• Investing in a tax deferral plan, such as an individual retirement account

Unfortunately, because tax laws are complex, a person may be accused of tax evasion when they intended to engage in lawful tax avoidance. Speak with Rogan Law about your case to learn what defenses may be available to you.

Penalties for Tax Evasion

If a federal prosecutor can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person failed to pay or underpaid taxes, they did so by willfully engaging in evasion strategies, and they intended to avoid their tax liability, a jury may find them guilty of tax evasion.

A conviction for the offense may result in:

• Up to 5 years in prison
• A fine of up to $100,000 (if the defendant is an individual)
• A fine of up to $500,000 (if the defendant is a corporation)

Discuss Your Case Today

Our Scranton tax evasion attorney is ready to listen to your side of the story and get started on your defense. We have over 30 years of experience, have handled thousands of cases, and will put our knowledge and skills to work for you.

Call Rogan Law at (570) 906-8532 or contact us online. We proudly serve the people of Lackawanna County.