Tax Fraud

Respected Tampa Federal Crime Lawyer Skillfully Handling Cases Involving Allegations of White-Collar Crime

As they say, nothing in this life is guaranteed except death and taxes. And just like death finds us, so too will the tax man at the Internal Revenue Service. If you are under investigation for tax evasion or you’ve recently been arrested for tax fraud, having an experienced Tampa tax fraud lawyer in your corner is going to be critical to ensuring a favorable outcome. At the Mayberry Law Firm, we have extensive experience handling complex white-collar criminal cases, including those involving tax fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and other similar offenses. 

Give us a call to get started on your defense today. 

What Is Tax Fraud?

Under federal law, tax fraud occurs when an individual or business intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to reduce their tax liability or avoid paying taxes altogether. For example, tax fraud can involve actions such as underreporting income, inflating deductions, hiding assets, or claiming credits and exemptions that someone is not entitled to. Tax fraud is considered a serious crime and is prosecuted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under federal statutes, particularly 26 U.S.C. § 7201, which deals more broadly with tax evasion.

Tax fraud typically requires the willful intent to deceive the government. Common examples include failure to file a tax return, keeping two sets of financial books, or deliberately making false statements to the IRS. Penalties for tax fraud can be severe, including hefty fines, civil penalties, and even imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense. The IRS investigates tax fraud cases and can bring criminal charges against those found guilty of violating federal tax laws. However, even when the IRS identifies problems with your return, they don’t always pursue criminal charges. Sometimes, the IRS is satisfied with civil penalties. 

Tax Fraud Penalties

Tax fraud is considered a federal felony, and if you are convicted, you can face up to five years in prison. Additionally, a tax fraud conviction will result in a fine of up to $will,000 fine per count for an individual or $500,000 per count for a corporation. The judge overseeing a tax fraud case can also order that the defendant pay for the costs of prosecuting the case. 

Under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, the applicable base offense level is determined by the amount of loss to the United States government. So, the more money the federal government claims it lost, the higher the base offense level. However, because there is a maximum prison sentence set forth in the statute, a sentence for tax fraud cannot exceed five years. However, according to the United States Sentencing Commission, the average sentence for a tax fraud conviction was 16 months in federal prison. 

Note, however, that federal prosecutors often charge tax fraud with other similar offenses. In these situations, the sentence you receive for tax fraud could be in addition to any other offenses for which you were found guilty. 

How Can We Help?

Despite the statutory cap on the maximum prison sentence for tax fraud, it is not a charge to take lightly. Tax fraud is considered a white-collar crime of dishonesty, and often, those accused have little or no criminal history and are not previously convicted felons. As a result, these individuals are typically unfamiliar with the criminal justice system. Yet, the Federal system is complex, high-stakes, and requires experience. Each Tampa tax fraud lawyer at the Mayberry Law Firm is dedicated to securing the best possible outcome for each of our clients, regardless of charge. Our attorneys are consistently in federal criminal court, representing our clients to the best of our abilities, and we’re eager to do the same for you. We are available for a free, no-obligation consultation at your convenience. To learn more, and to schedule your free consultation today, give the Mayberry Law Firm a call today at 813-444-7435. You can also reach out to our Tampa tax fraud lawyers by completing our secure online contact form.