Lexington Tax Evasion Attorney

The most powerful government agency is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In South Carolina their efforts are supported by the South Carolina Department of Revenue (DOR). They have nearly unlimited resources available to them to investigate, pursue and prosecute those suspected of committing tax evasion offenses. When they uncover evidence they believe shows a tax crime was committed they can impose swift and severe penalties, including the seizure of bank accounts, financial accounts, and other assets. Not only can assets be seized, and tax penalties be imposed, there can be substantial criminal penalties against those who the government suspects have committed tax fraud or tax evasion. This can result in the imposition of fines as well as a sentence in a Federal or State prison.

Fighting a Tax Evasion Charge

As soon as you believe that you may be at risk for an arrest you should consult with an attorney for a confidential consultation. Quickly obtaining the services of a criminal defense attorney can be the difference between a case being successfully resolved or not. We will involve professional forensic accountants, certified public accounts, and other professions on your team as necessary to help present your defense to any tax related allegations.

Simple Mistakes Don't Violate Criminal Law

Simply owing taxes to the IRS or the DOR is not a criminal offense. There are honest mistakes that people can make that can result in underreporting or underpaying a legitimate tax debt. In order to be an effective criminal case against you the government must have evidence that you intended to defraud your tax obligations. If your tax problems can be shown to be the result of a simple mistake, not an intentional act, it may be possible to have them resolved through the imposition of administrative penalties (such as a late tax penalty or interest). In some cases even those penalties can be reduced or lowered.

What should you do if you are concerned about a tax issue?

The IRS and DOR are primarily concerning with generating revenue for the government. Their primary mission is not to act as a law enforcement agency, or to criminal prosecute individuals. For that reason people who come forward and cooperate regarding tax issues are frequently worked with by those agencies, and not prosecuted. For this reason we recommend that anyone who is concerned about a possible investigation or arrest for tax evasion get professional help as soon as possible, even if you have not received an investigation or audit notice.

Types of Tax Evasion Cases

Contact a Lexington Tax Crimes Attorney

Our founding attorney, James R. Snell, Jr., is admitted to practice before the United States District Court. Additionally, he has been admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.