Baltimore Federal Tax Fraud Lawyer
The tax system in the United States is extremely complicated. The federal tax code has grown to more than 70,000 pages, and the majority of individuals and businesses need help from accountants or automated computer programs to file income taxes. It is easy to make mistakes when you have so many obligations under U.S. tax law. Unfortunately, errors can sometimes lead to criminal charges. If you are accused of violating tax laws, a Baltimore City federal tax fraud lawyer can help you to respond to the criminal charges that you are facing.
Many people do not realize that they are violating tax laws. Laws change constantly and are written in a complex way that is difficult to understand. Making a mistake should not result in a conviction for tax fraud. A Baltimore City federal tax fraud lawyer can help you to argue lack of intent. Your attorney can also help raise other defenses including that you do not owe the taxes the IRS is claiming you do; or that there is insufficient evidence you violated the laws.
Federal Laws on Tax Fraud
The Internal Revenue Code is found in Title 26 of the U.S. Code and contains 11 subtitles. Subtitle F establishes the rules for the Procedure and Administration of U.S. tax law. Within this Subtitle, Chapter 75 defines defines tax crimes and sets forth penalties. Code Sections 7201 through 7217 define 18 different tax crimes you could be charged with. These include, but are not limited to:
- Attempting to evade or defeat your tax liability.
- A willful failure to pay taxes, or to collect taxes.
- A willful failure to file an income tax return.
- Providing fraudulent statements or not providing required tax statements to employees
- Employees failing to provide information to employers or willfully making false statements when supplying information for tax withholding.
- Filing fraudulent tax returns.
- Not obeying a summons to produce accounts or other papers to the IRS or to appear and testify about your tax forms.
The Tax Crimes Handbook from the Office of Chief Counsel of the Criminal Tax Division broadly divides tax fraud into two categories of offenses: evading tax assessments and evading tax payments. If you are accused of doing either, you need to talk to a Baltimore City federal tax fraud lawyer about what your options are.
Penalties for Federal Tax Fraud
Baltimore City residents who are accused of tax fraud face a variety of penalties depending upon the specifics of their alleged actions. If convicted of an attempt to willfully avoid paying required taxes, you could be found guilty of a felony, fined up to $100,000 (or $500,000 for corporations), and imprisoned for up to five years.
Willfully filing false returns, on the other hand, can result in up to one year incarceration under Code Section 7207. A Baltimore City federal tax fraud lawyer can help to determine the penalties that are possible for the particular offense you have been charged with.
How a Baltimore City Federal Tax Fraud Lawyer Can Help
If you do not want to fight the tax fraud charges by pleading not guilty, a Baltimore City tax fraud attorney can help you negotiate a plea bargain or an agreement to reduce the charges or avoid penalties. In some cases, the IRS is willing to allow you to avoid criminal prosecution entirely if you are willing to pay back taxes.
To learn more about your legal options, contact a Baltimore City federal tax fraud lawyer today.