Is the IRS investigating you for a tax crime? Facing any type of criminal allegation is difficult. Of the numerous employees at the IRS, 2,800 of them are considered special agents who investigate tax crimes and other white collar crimes, money-related criminal activities. If you have found yourself under investigation, don’t worry. You probably feel alone, confused and overwhelmed at the prospect of an arrest or trial. That’s why Okabe & Haushalter is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the wrongfully accused.
The IRS is the only agency that can investigate criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents realize that the United States tax laws depend heavily on self-assessment, leaving dishonest individuals with many opportunities to cheat the system. Tax crimes aren’t right, but accusing and convicting an innocent person of a crime they didn’t commit is wrong, too. If you’re facing a criminal investigation or criminal charges involving tax-related crimes, call a lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter today.
What is a tax crime? Generally speaking, tax crime is an umbrella term that refers to any activity that violates the United States tax code. In the 2012 fiscal year alone, more than 2,500 criminal investigations have been initiated by the IRS – 1,270 of which have ended in criminal convictions. Of the people convicted, approximately 80% were sentenced to prison or another form of incarceration, with an average confinement period of 44 months. If you are convicted of a tax crime, you could easily spend more than three and a half years in prison. Tax crime convictions are serious; that’s why you need a hard-hitting criminal defense attorney going to bad for you in the courtroom. At the firm, our lawyers are dedicated to providing clients with zealous and effective legal advocacy; your freedom is our priority and we will fight to keep you out of jail.
Many IRS investigations involve tax evasion. According to the IRS, tax evasion is a Title 26 tax violation and is a felony. There are two types of tax evasion:
Both of these crimes are considered felonies and are punishable by 5 years of incarceration and a $100,000 fine. If a corporation is convicted of tax evasion, the fine may be increased to $500,000. The failure to file, supply information or pay tax is also a Title 26 tax violation. According to the law, individuals are required to pay taxes unless special circumstances allow them a tax exemption. If the IRS accuses you of failing to pay your taxes on time, you may be in danger of suffering serious legal consequences. In order to be convicted, the IRS must demonstrate that:
The difference between failing to pay your taxes and tax evasion involves affirmative action. For example, if an individual conceals financial assets in order to avoid paying taxes, the IRS may accuse him/her of tax evasion. If the individual simply refused to pay, the IRS may investigate him/her for failing to pay.
Other tax-related criminal offenses include fraudulently withholding exemption, failing to supply information, creating false returns or other false documents, etc. If you are facing a tax crime investigation or charge, talk to a lawyer from Okabe & Haushalter right away. The sooner we hear from you, the fast we can begin creating an effective and aggressive strategy to keep you out of jail.
