Facing a tax fraud or tax evasion investigation can be an alarming experience. It requires working with parts of the federal government which may be intimidating, including working with the Internal Revenue Service. Both individuals and organizations may find themselves in situations requiring guidance regarding tax fraud investigations, charges and other concerns.
Concerns individuals and organizations may end up in the uncomfortable position of facing can include investigations and charges related to tax fraud; tax evasion; failure to file; fraudulent filings; underreporting; falsifying records; concealing assets; or accusations of perjury. It may be necessary to work with the Internal Revenue Service to resolve tax-related issues or it may be necessary to litigate those issues in court so it is helpful to have an understanding of the process and to have knowledgeable and trained guidance throughout.
Penalties for tax fraud can vary and concerns may be considered civil or criminal in nature. Civil penalties can include 75 percent of the underpayment, while criminal penalties can include the civil fraud penalty of 75 percent in addition to significant fines and time in jail. It is important to keep in mind that mistakes and negligence are not considered tax fraud so individuals and organizations should understand the differences and the options available to them to respond to tax fraud allegations.
It is essential to have a strategy to respond to any accusations of wrongdoing related to taxes. To effectively do that, it is necessary to be familiar with rights and options of the individual or organizational tax payer.