Defend Yourself Against Criminal Tax Charges in Pennsylvania!

If you are under investigation or already charged with a crime by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (CID), you need a defense attorney to help you protect your rights and your livelihood from criminal tax fraud charges.

Do not speak to anyone about your tax situation or status before speaking to an attorney - even your accountant, bookkeeper, or tax preparer. There is no right of confidentiality in a criminal matter with anyone other than your attorney. Protect your rights by remaining silent, and speak to an attorney immediately.

Tax Evasion is defined as "intentional conduct to defeat the income tax laws." It is often defined broadly to include any type of scheme or attempt to allegedly cheat the government out of tax revenue.

Filing a False Return is exactly as it sounds. If anything on your tax return contains a material misstatement, you can be charged with filing a false return. This is a more common charge than tax evasion, since it is easier to prove. The government does not need to establish that you intended to evade the income tax laws, only that you filed a false tax return.

Failure to File a Tax Return is the least serious tax crime. It is simply allegedly intentionally failing to file a return when you are legally obligated to do so. Not everyone is required to file a tax return, depending on what your earnings are in any given year. You can be charged with failing to file a return, even if all of your taxes have been paid through withholdings.

Tax Fraud Penalties

Tax evasion is a felony, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine if you are found guilty. (IRS Code Section 7201)

Filing a False Return is also a felony with a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. (IRS Code Section 7206)

Failure to File a Tax Return is a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year in jail and or a fine of $25,000 for each year not filed.

Free Tax Crime Defense Legal Consultation

If you've been charged with tax evasion, filing a false return, or failure to file a tax return in the Pittsburgh, PA or Western Pennsylvania area, please call me for a free legal consultation. I can offer you some advice on what you can do to handle your situation, go over your case and suggest some possible defenses, and let you know how I can help you. There's no obligation, and my consultation is strictly confidential, even if you don't choose to hire me. Call now.