Chula Vista’s Top-Rated Tax Attorneys

Criminal tax cases negatively can affect your credit score in a multitude of ways. Any money that is owed but not paid has the potential to go to collections. Once this happens, credit bureaus are contacted and your credit score can go down. Additionally, having a criminal record can impact how willing lending companies are to give you a loan. Since regular payments on loans helps raise credit scores, you may find it hard to work towards a better score. If you are put in jail for your criminal tax case, paying off current debts can also be challenging leading to missed payments which impact your credit score. So while the tax case will not affect your credit score, there are a multitude of consequences that ripple out from the charge that can do damage.

Our attorneys at Silver Law can help you notice the signs that you might be under investigation for tax crimes. Some of the indications include getting an unexpected notice from the IRS asking for details about your finances. You might get audited more often or you may be required to provide thorough tax documentation from a tax agent. In the end, any uptick in IRS communication or a change in your CPA’s behavior can indicate an investigation. If you notice you might be under investigation, contact a tax attorney right away to protect your rights.

Yes, it is possible that you could be sent to jail for not paying your taxes, but not in every case. You will likely be charged with criminal charges if you fail to pay your taxes and the IRS decides that it is tax evasion or tax fraud. If you are convicted of tax evasion, you probably intentionally did not pay taxes through illegal routes like not disclosing certain income or claiming deductions that don’t exist. The good news is, if you did not pay taxes because you were not able to financially, there are programs to help and you won’t be sent to jail, but you will face fines and other penalties. In serious cases of tax evasion, you will be sent to jail. No matter the situation, it is wise to have a tax attorney on your side.

Like any crime that you are accused of, the first thing you should do is remain calm, polite, and cooperative without giving or saying anything until you contact your tax attorney. Let the investigators know that you will be seeking legal counsel and will provide the information they require through your attorney. At that point, contact a Silver Law tax attorney and give them the specifics of your situation. They will be able to direct you through the process, making sure you provide the necessary information without giving anything extraneous that could harm your case. At this point, be sure to rely on your attorney and do not talk about the investigation with anyone.

If you are being investigated by the IRS for criminal activity, there are several things that may have prompted this. Typically, evidence of tax fraud or evasion is found through discrepancies or suspicious activities on your taxes. This is discovered through regular audits. Sometimes, if you’re not regularly audited, it is possible the IRS caught wind of some activity from employees, business partners, or others that might have inside knowledge. If you have any offshore accounts, false deductions, or fraudulent tax shelters, they can be flagged and looked into. There are several defenses and ways to protect your rights if being investigated, so be sure to make yourself aware of your options.

Yes it is. Falsifying tax returns includes intentionally under-reporting income, over-reporting deductions, or claiming credits that do not belong to you. All of these actions are tax fraud and tax fraud has serious consequences including criminal charges. If you are found guilty of these charges, you will face fines, restitution, and imprisonment. How severe your punishment is depends on how much money was involved in the fraud. The IRS takes tax fraud so seriously that they have a division dedicated to tax fraud cases called the Criminal Investigation Division.

Whether or not underreported income is tax fraud or tax evasion depends on the circumstances. An action is considered tax fraud if you give false information on a tax return. It is only tax fraud if it is done with intention so you don’t have to pay so many taxes. Tax evasion, however, is a larger umbrella term that covers any actions that are illegal and done to avoid paying taxes. This could include underreporting income, overreporting deductions, or hiding assets. No matter what you are charged with, both offenses are serious and come with hefty penalties. If you underreported your taxes on accident, though, or were negligent, you will incur penalties, but it will not be a criminal charge.