Santa Barbara, a picturesque city known for its dynamic economic activities and vibrant community, is not immune to the complex challenges of federal and California State tax regulations. Many individuals and small businesses in the city often feel unsure about complex tax rules and tend not to be risk-averse. Consequently, if you are confronted with a criminal tax investigation or are worried about a high-risk tax audit you are facing potentially becoming an eggshell or reverse eggshell audit, you are wise to seek to understand the potential gravity of your circumstances. When dealing with an IRS criminal tax investigation, Eggshell, or Reverse Eggshell audit, there are specific actions you should take and others to avoid to build a strong defense and minimize any potentially catastrophic criminal tax consequences.
When facing high-risk tax audits from agencies like the IRS, CDTFA, or FTB, certain red flags, such as destroyed records, underreported income, badges of fraud, or unfiled returns, can intensify the IRS civil / criminal tax examination. As such, residents and businesses must be aware of potential criminal tax violations and the signs indicating that they might be under a more rigorous investigation by the clandestine IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID). This is especially so when the taxpayer has a history of blatantly cheating on their tax returns and is now under audit and thus fears criminal tax prosecution. Even international tax evasion schemes that utilize remote tax havens are easily detected by the IRS, which works with tax and law enforcement agencies around the globe and throughout the United States.
Swift Action is Crucial in Santa Barbara Criminal Tax Defense
Facing an IRS criminal tax investigation necessitates swift and deliberate action. Identifying early indications of an IRS criminal tax probe can shift the outcome in your favor. It’s imperative to promptly engage a dual licensed Santa Barbara Criminal Tax Attorney and CPA. Their deep understanding of tax law and insights into the IRS’s clandestine investigation procedures can be instrumental in achieving damage control. The ultimate aim is to resolve the criminal tax investigation or high-risk tax audit without progressing to criminal tax prosecution, thus avoiding an indictment’s accompanying severe negative public attention and life-altering ramifications.
Why Choose the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing for All Criminal Tax Defense Matters in Santa Barbara?
At the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, we focus on high-risk civil and criminal tax controversies, offering our focused experience and long track record of success. Boasting a blend of experienced Dual Licensed Criminal Tax Defense Attorneys and CPAs, our office is uniquely equipped to guide Santa Barbara residents and businesses through the intricacies of civil and criminal tax exposure.
Our dual-licensed Santa Barbara Criminal Tax Defense Attorneys & CPAs understand the gravity of potential tax charges stemming from intentional tax evasion, fraudulent withholding, or false statements and the associated heavy fines and prison sentences. Skilled legal representation can make all the difference between an IRS audit concluding uneventfully – or spiraling into a dangerous criminal tax investigation. If you or your small business has been selected for a tax audit in Santa Barbara, and you are concerned about a criminal tax investigation resulting from or occurring alongside the audit, engaging our services at the onset of a high-risk audit / criminal tax investigation will maximize the possibility of a favorable outcome without escalating to criminal tax charges. Additionally, we always keep a mix of civil and potentially criminal tax controversies going simultaneously to keep the IRS guessing. Call 805-200-4053 or schedule a reduced-rate initial consultation here at our Santa Barbara office or one of our other convenient locations across Southern California.
We Are Led by One of the Nation’s Most Exceptionally Trained Tax Professionals
With a stellar “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and a flawless 10.0 from AVVO, David W. Klasing‘s dedication to premier Civil and Criminal Tax Defense Representation is unwavering. Our firm isn’t just another legal service provider. Instead, it is a beacon of tax defense proficiency, boasting an impressive history of successes, steered by one of the country’s most exceptionally trained tax professionals. In a nation where over a million attorneys and more than half a million CPAs operate, only around 24,000 professionals hold both licenses. And even amongst them, merely about 3,000 have the added distinction of having earned a Master’s in Taxation. David W. Klasing belongs to this elite subset, employing his unmatched education and experience to fiercely advocate for our clients in their civil and criminal tax defense challenges.
What Signals a Shift from a Standard Tax Audit to a Criminal Tax Investigation in Santa Barbara?
In Santa Barbara, distinguishing between a routine tax audit and the far more severe and covert criminal tax investigation led by the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is crucial. While the primary objective of a tax audit is to verify the accuracy of reported taxes, a CID investigation focuses on gathering evidence to potentially charge someone with criminal tax violations, primarily for the deterrent effect it casts on the general populace. This approach stems from the belief that maintaining faith in the federal tax system necessitates regular criminal tax enforcement against intentional rule-breakers.
Critical Areas of CID’s Investigative Focus:
Legal Source Income Tax Violations: CID targets individuals who, despite earning income legally, illegally evade paying the taxes they owe;
Financial Crimes from Unlawful Activities: This includes tax offenses, money laundering, and other financial crimes linked to illicit activities;
Drug-Related Financial Crimes: CID plays a significant role in combating drug crimes by tracing and documenting financial transactions that lead to crucial figures in drug syndicates and
Counterterrorism Financing: CID collaborates with other tax agencies, using its financial investigative expertise to support terrorism-related cases.
Other Agencies Involved in Criminal Tax Defense Beyond the IRS in Santa Barbara
In Santa Barbara, if you are facing criminal tax charges or suspect that an eggshell audit or criminal tax investigation is looming, it is critical to understand the involvement of various agencies beyond the IRS. The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and the Employment Development Department (EDD) also play significant roles in criminal tax investigations. These California state agencies can initiate audits and investigations that trigger events leading to serious legal consequences. Being aware of the roles and interactions of these agencies with the IRS-CID is essential for mounting an effective defense and protecting your financial and personal liberty. Contact the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing online immediately to arrange a reduced-rate initial consultation or call our Santa Barbara tax office at 805-200-4053 for help today.
Should My Original Preparer Handle My Tax Audit or Criminal Tax Investigation?
If CID special agents have approached your tax accountant or received a subpoena for a grand jury appearance with a request for your tax records, the stakes could not be any higher. Recognizing that any past or present statements shared with your tax accountant are not protected in a criminal tax investigation/prosecution is critical. These statements can be used against you through the “discovery” process preceding a trial or if the accountant is forced to testify during a criminal tax trial. The supposed “accountant-client privilege” doesn’t shield you during criminal tax proceedings.
How Can an Attorney Protect My Interactions?
In stark contrast, your interactions with an attorney are shielded under the attorney-client privilege, and the attorneys’ staff’s work product is also privileged. Once you know of an investigation, refrain from discussing further details with your tax accountant. Doing so might provide the IRS with additional evidence against you. Securing a specialized IRS criminal tax defense attorney becomes paramount when your accountant has liaised with special agents. It’s also noteworthy that a potential conflict of interest arises with your accountant in such circumstances. Their need to protect their reputation and livelihood directly contradicts your need to avoid criminal tax prosecution.
What Are the Risks of Exposing Sensitive Information?
Dialogues with tax preparers or accountants are not confidential. If called upon during a legal tax proceeding, they must divulge any incriminating information shared with them. Tax preparers often attempt to redirect any blame to their clients, especially when they risk simultaneous investigation and prosecution for aiding and abetting tax crimes to protect their professional standing, licensing, reputation, livelihood, net worth, and liberty.
What Legal Protections and Confidentiality Do I Have?
When navigating a tax audit or criminal tax probe, only the attorney-client relationship affords you the necessary confidentiality and protection to thoroughly discuss the potentially incriminating nature of your case without having the professional you trust become a witness against you. The attorney-client privilege and the attorney work-product rule ensure that your disclosures remain safeguarded.
Why Should I Engage a Dual-Licensed Attorney and CPA?
Hence, engaging our dual-licensed Santa Barbara Civil and Criminal Tax Attorneys & CPAs would be wise. We can collaborate with consulting accountants under the auspices of the attorney-client privilege through a mechanism known as a Kovel letter. This ensures that your disclosures remain confidential, tapping into the expertise of accountants concurrently. While accountants are geared toward precision, we prioritize advocacy, making our expertise invaluable as tax matters veer toward legal disputes. We have an entire staff of Kovel accountants at our disposal.
Contact Us for All Your Criminal Tax Defense Needs In Santa Barbara
At The Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, we are ready, willing, and able to help you defend against an IRS, FTB, CDTFA (BOE), or EDD audit or criminal tax investigation. Our experienced staff will review your case, communicate with the auditing / investigating taxing authority on your behalf, and fight to get the best result possible. If the results achieved are less than optimal, our Tax Appeals and Criminal Tax Defense Lawyers will fight to better the situation in the appeals and litigation process or, where necessary, strive to get a declination before criminal indictment, or worst-case scenario, try to achieve damage control through an advantageous plea bargain. To schedule a reduced-rate initial consultation regarding your audit or criminal tax investigation/prosecution, call 805-200-4053 or 800-681-1295 or schedule online today.
In addition to our fully staffed 19,700 square foot penthouse office in Irvine, the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has unstaffed (conference room only) satellite offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Panorama City, Oxnard, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Carlsbad, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico. We also have virtual offices in New York, New York; Austin, Texas; and Washington, D.C.
Our Santa Barbara office is conveniently located at:
7 W Figueroa St #300,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-200-4053
Here is a link to our YouTube channel: click here!
See our Criminal Tax Law Q and A Library
See our Audit Representation Q and A Library
See our Sales Tax Q and A library
See our Employment Tax Law Q and A Library