Tag Archives: Tax Fraud

What You Need to Know About Indiana Tax Fraud

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If you are a small business owner who is preparing to file your company’s tax return, you have until tomorrow to do so. If you are an individual filing your personal tax returns, you have until Monday, April 18th. Either way, it is important to protect yourself against tax errors because you do not want to mistakenly be charged with tax fraud.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about Indiana tax fraud before Tax Day is upon us this year, plus who to trust for aggressive legal defense if ultimately indicted on any type of white-collar criminal charge.

Tax Fraud Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-636-7514
Tax Fraud Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana 317-636-7514

Important Tax Fraud Facts

Tax fraud is also known as tax evasion. A person can be indicted and charged with tax evasion if they intentionally or knowingly neglect to file their taxes, pay their taxes in full, or provide dishonest data (or omit required data) on their returns for the purpose of evading payment. In order to be convicted of tax evasion, the IRS must prove that you deliberately and knowingly demonstrated one of these fore-mentioned acts.

Most Common Types of Tax Fraud Crimes:

▷ Under Reporting Income
▷ Falsifying Tax Return Data (inflating business expenses, overstating size of household, etc.)
▷ Underpaying Taxes
▷Not Paying Taxes
▷ Deceiving the Department of Revenue (DOR)
▷ Misrepresenting Economic Circumstances

Indiana Tax Fraud Penalties Upon Conviction:

Those who are convicted of Indiana tax fraud will be sentenced depending on the severity of their crimes. Penalties range from jail and prison time to fines, restitution, loss of certain freedoms, and more. Most Indiana tax fraud convictions are sentenced as Class A misdemeanors or Level 6 felonies.

▷ Level 6 Felony = Six Months to 2 ½ Years in County Jail – Fines up to $10,000

▷ Class A Misdemeanor = Up to 12 Months in County Jail – Fines up to $5,000

Tax Errors Do Not Make You a Criminal

If you mistakenly underpaid your taxes, provided incorrect information on your return, or forgot to file your tax return altogether, you are not committing a crime of fraud. In such cases, you would simply need to contact the proper IRS authorities and notify them of your mistake. From there, they will give you the instructions you need to follow to correct your error. You will likely have to pay a small penalty fee, generally $100 to $300.

Are you looking for qualified criminal defense that can reduce or dismiss your white collar crime or fraud charges in Indiana? Contact the Law Office of David E. Lewis at 317-636-7514 to schedule a meeting with an Indianapolis fraud crime lawyer you can trust. We represent all white collar crime cases in Indiana.

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Can I Get Arrested For Not Paying My Taxes?
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Frequently Asked Questions About White Collar Crimes
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Can I Get Arrested For Not Paying My Taxes?

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Tax Day is soon approaching, whether you are ready for it or not. Fortunately, with the recent government extensions granted to United States citizens, you will likely be well-prepared to pay your dues. But what happens to those who do not? After all, the old saying, “the only two things promised in life are death and taxes” is an adage for a reason. There are various consequences for failing to pay state and federal taxes, and similarly, consequences for lying on tax documents.

Continue reading to learn the laws surrounding tax crimes, including what to do if you have legal questions regarding your tax situation.

Indianapolis Fraud Lawyer 317-636-7514
Indianapolis Fraud Lawyer 317-636-7514

State and Federal Tax Fraud in Indiana

Intentionally not paying or under-paying your taxes, whether state, federal, or both, is a white collar crime in Indiana. Referred to as tax fraud or tax evasion, it is generally charged as a Class A Misdemeanor or Level 6 Felony.

⏩ Class A Misdemeanor – Up to 1 year in jail, with no advisory sentence. Fines up to $5,000, not including court or lawyer fees.

⏩ Level 6 Felony – Six Months to 2.5 years in jail, with an average of 1 year. Fines up to $10,000, not including court or lawyer fees.

Made Some Mistakes on Your Tax Documents?

Do not worry if you unknowingly made some errors on your tax documents. Tax mistakes are not considered tax fraud unless they are egregious or intentional.

Lying on Tax Forms

Often referred to as “cooking the books” in old gangster movies, lying on tax forms for the purpose of evading dues, defrauding the state, or receiving pecuniary benefits, is a very serious white collar tax fraud crime. It is charged as a Level 6 Felony, which is penalized by six months to 2.5 years in jail, with an advisory sentence of 1 year, and fines up to $10,000, not including court or lawyer fees.

Restitution or Jail?

In minor cases, or cases of first time offenders, courts might agree to do away with jail time if a defendant pays back the money they owe, plus any fees tacked on for late payment. Paying back taxes is referred to as restitution, and it is a common plea deal awarded in court. In order to be given the option of restitution over jail time, you must have a skilled criminal defense lawyer working your case. Otherwise, you are subjected to being sentenced to the maximum penalties for your crime.

Trust an Experienced Indiana Fraud Lawyer

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law at 317-636-7514 to get help with your Indiana fraud charges, today. Whether charged with fraud or some other type of white collar crime, our Indianapolis criminal defense law firm offers free initial consultations to discuss the best strategies of defense for your case. Avoid the maximum penalties for your criminal charges by calling David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, today!

Indianapolis Criminal Defense 317-636-7514
Schedule a Free Consultation Today!