A criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale knows that some of the offenses that carry the heaviest penalties involve federal crimes, including tax crimes.  A criminal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale should be contacted when facing any of the following types of tax cases:

Failure to File Tax Returns

It is a crime to willingly fail to file a tax return in order to avoid paying taxes owed.  However, sometimes it is a simple mistake when someone fails to file a return, such as thinking that he or she had filed when this had not occurred.

 Failure to Pay Taxes

Individuals and businesses are required to pay their fair share of taxes.  Employers are required to withhold taxes from their employees’ wages including Medicare, Social Security and FICA.  In other situations, individuals or businesses may not realize certain tax obligations.  A criminal defense lawyer may be able to help negotiate an agreement in which taxes are paid so that any criminal penalties are avoided.

Making a False Statement

If someone makes or signs a tax return and submits it to the Internal Revenue Service, he or she is certifying that the information on the form is correct.  Making a false statement such as overstating income or overstating deductions can result in serious repercussions.

Tax Evasion

The Internal Revenue Service aggressively pursues individuals whom they suspect of attempting to evade taxes.  Often a civil audit leads to a referral to the criminal division if the person conducting the audit believes that the taxpayer has committed tax evasion or some other type of fraud.

Individuals who are convicted of tax evasion or other forms of tax fraud face federal penalties up to five years in prison and a fine up to $100,000 for an individual.  The prosecution can also receive payment for the cost to prosecute the case.