It’s one thing to make mistakes on your tax return. It’s quite another to deliberately defraud the IRS. In this blog, a Fresno tax fraud attorney addresses the difference between these two scenarios.
A Bad Idea
Most people know that attempting to willingly commit income tax fraud is massively unwise. The IRS is not an easy organization to fool, and the penalties in place for cheating on your taxes can be expensive in ways most of us prefer not to think about. However, given the complexity of tax laws and the myriad technicalities that can be involved in preparing a complicated return, it’s possible to simply make a mistake that could be construed as fraud by an auditor.
How It’s Done
Usually, tax cheating is done by telling the IRS that the taxpayer’s earnings were less than they actually were. It is not unheard of for automobile dealerships, owner-operators in the food service and retail industries, small business owners, and even professionals such as physicians or attorneys to make this mistake.
Mistakes Vs. Willful Fraud
Since the IRS is fully aware of the complexity of the current tax laws, they are not surprised if some mistakes appear on a return. Unless the form shows demonstrably false information, the IRS will probably not immediately bring charges against you. If the mistake is sufficiently serious to raise their suspicions, you and your criminal defense lawyer in Fresno will need to demonstrate that while your information was incorrect, you had no intent to defraud.
Contact Us
Your Fresno tax fraud attorney is experienced in dealing with the IRS. If you have been unfairly accused of tax fraud, contact Capozzi Law by calling us at (559) 374-2012 today.
