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Virginia Federal Tax Fraud Lawyer

If you are facing federal tax fraud charges in Virginia, you have choices. One of the first choices you should make is to seek the assistance of an experienced Virginia federal tax fraud lawyer who understands how to help clients facing these serious charges.

The Virginia federal tax fraud attorneys at our law firm have handled fraud cases at the federal level, and they understand how to tailor their investigation and litigation practices to meet the needs of each individual client.  All cases are different, and our federal fraud defense attorneys are here to make sure that your defense gets the time and care it deserves.

Call our law offices today to conduct your free initial consultation.

Common Types of Tax Fraud

Every spring, adults across the United States prepare and file their federal tax returns. Unfortunately, many Americans will end up with tax liability to the government. Tax fraud allegations can lead to serious civil and criminal penalties, so you should always be careful to only report accurate information on your taxes.

There are many different forms of federal tax fraud. Some of the most common include the following:

  • Using the social security number (SSN), name, or other personal information of a legitimate taxpayer to file a fraudulent tax return
  • Omitting or under-reporting income
  • Hiding assets or income in offshore accounts, under false names, or via other methods
  • Overestimating or overstating deductions or expenses
  • Claiming false dependents
  • Falsifying records or books or keeping two different sets of records or books
  • Claiming business expenses when they were actually personal expenses
  • Business owners failing to properly withhold employment taxes
  • Failing to file or pay your annual taxes
  • Lying to federal tax investigators
  • Any other attempt to evade tax liability

Elements of Tax Fraud and Evasion

Suspected tax evasion is one of the most common reasons behind criminal tax fraud charges. Because the IRS is a federal agency, attempts to defraud the IRS are prosecuted as federal crimes by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Attempts to evade tax liability is unlawful under 26 U.S. Code 7201. In order to convict you of tax evasion, a federal prosecutor must prove that you intentionally tried to avoid paying your full amount of taxes in any manner. A seasoned Virginia federal tax fraud lawyer can force the prosecution to provide the burden of proof and protect your rights in court.

The law is not intended to criminally penalize taxpayers who simply make a mistake on their taxes. Instead, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the reporting of false information was willful. For this reason, a common defense to tax evasion charges is for an attorney to argue that you or a tax preparer made an honest error on your returns.

Criminal Penalties for Tax Fraud Convictions

If you are convicted of tax fraud or evasion, you may face very serious consequences. For a first offense, you may be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison. That prison sentence can be substantially extended if you face multiple counts of tax fraud. With the help of a Virginia federal tax fraud attorney, a judge may also choose to sentence you to probation instead of prison time, although such probation will likely significantly affect your freedom. While on probation, you will have to comply with strict conditions, including regular meetings with your probation officer, limitations on where you may move, maintained employment, paying probation costs, staying out of trouble with the law, and much more.

In addition to prison time or probation, the court may impose large fines on those convicted of tax fraud or evasion. For certain tax fraud offenses, a court may impose a fine up to $100,000 for individuals and up to $250,000 for businesses. For offenses involving willful tax evasion, individuals may face a $250,000 fine and businesses may face up to $500,000. In addition to these potential fines, the government agengies who prosecute your crime, such as the Department of Justice may also be able to recover the costs of prosecution, which vary from case to case. Finally, a court will likely order you to pay restitution, or the amount of taxes that you would have owed had you not provided the false information.

Contact a Virginia Federal Tax Fraud Attorney Today

Allegations of federal tax fraud are extremely serious. If you believe you are under suspicion of tax fraud or if you have been charged, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Additionally, you should always ensure you are represented by a Virginia federal tax fraud lawyer who specifically has experience handling federal cases in your jurisdiction. Contact our office for today to set up your free consultation.

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