According to a Department of Justice press release, a Florida man pleaded guilty to evading his federal income taxes and now faces prison time. This case underscores the gravity of tax evasion and the serious legal consequences it can bring. If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years, or have taken a position on a tax return that was knowingly false, it is crucial to consult with an experienced tax attorney to explore your options to come back into tax compliance.
Defendant Evaded Income Taxes Over Several Years
Between 2015 and 2018, Jeffrey Donaldson of Orlando, Florida, worked as a loan officer for two mortgage companies, during which he earned over $750,000 in wages. However, he submitted false employee withholding certificates to his employers, claiming that he was exempt from any federal income tax withholding. During this time, Donaldson willfully neglected to file personal tax returns, despite his income level necessitating him to do so. Consequently, Donaldson caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $150,000. Donaldson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, along with a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
The Importance of Legal Assistance in Tax Evasion Cases
The case of Jeffrey Donaldson serves as a reminder of the potential legal repercussions of evading federal taxes. If you have failed to file a federal or state tax return, or have taken understated income or inflated deductions, you should consult with an experienced tax lawyer as soon as possible.
A seasoned tax attorney can help determine the pertinent facts of your case. Together, you will chart a course to get you right with the government so you can focus on what matters most in life. Do not go into an IRS audit alone.
If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years or have taken a position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit, eggshell audit, reverse eggshell audit, or criminal tax investigation, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to determine your best route back into federal or state tax compliance without facing criminal prosecution.
Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.
It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.
Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.
As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, KovelCPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!
We Are Here for You
Regardless of your business or estate needs, the professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing are here for you. We are open for business and our team will help ensure that your business is too. Contact the Law Offices of David W. Klasing today to discuss your business with one of our professionals.
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Questions and Answers on Unfiled Back Taxes
- What are the common issues that non-filers face?
- Risk of audit after filing delinquent prior year returns
- Can substitute return deficiency be discharge in bankruptcy
- Substitute return modified by subsequent delinquent return?
- Do I file every delinquent return for each missing year?
- How does the IRS identify non-filers?
- How important is it to the government that I didn’t file?
- Delinquent tax return criminal prosecution likelihood
- Will I get a refund on a delinquent tax year?
- What happens after enforcement action has begun?
- Should I use an attorney, EA or a CPA to represent me when I re-enter the tax system?
- Why do people drop out of the tax system?
- What happens after the IRS identifies me as a non-filer?
- IRS has not previously filed substitute returns
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- What should I do to re-enter the tax system?
- Can Law Office of David W. Klasing help me re-enter system?
- Will tax collection taken by authorities affect my credit
- I concealed bank accounts from the government
- Forgetting or failing to file tax return
