Alabama Tax Fraud Lawyers

Why You Need a Lawyer

Getting charged with tax fraud, or tax evasion in Alabama can be an extremely overwhelming and frightening experience. However, having an experienced Alabama tax fraud lawyer on your side is super important and it can make all the difference in how your case plays out.

Important Reasons to Hire an Alabama Tax Fraud Lawyer

Here are some of the important reasons why it’s important to hire an Alabama tax fraud lawyer if you’re facing tax fraud criminal allegations:

• Navigating Complex Laws: Tax law is very complex. Trying to defend yourself against tax fraud charges without a sophisticated understanding of the laws and statutes is a recipe for disaster and jail time. An attorney will know how to apply the law to the specifics of your exact case.
• Avoid Costly Mistakes: If you try to handle your tax fraud case alone, you’re almost sure to make mistakes that could seriously damage your defense. You could incriminate yourself, or worse. Your criminal attorney knows how to correctly file motions, raise objections, and preserve your rights.
• Get Charges Reduced or Dismissed: Tax fraud lawyers know how to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and leverage them to get charges against you reduced or dismissed pre-trial.
• Creating a Strong Defense: Proving your innocence isn’t enough to defend against tax fraud allegations; you have to create a defense around the evidence and testimony which counters the prosecution’s arguments. Experienced defense lawyers know how to build a compelling criminal defense case from the ground up.
• Negotiating Plea Deals: If the evidence against you is strong, and going to trial carries significant risks, your criminal lawyer can negotiate with the prosecution for a favorable plea bargain which will minimize penalties.
• Navigating Sentencing: If you do end up convicted of tax fraud, skilled criminal attorneys are able to push for minimal sentences and alternative punishments to jail time. They know how to leverage mitigating factors in order keep you out of jail, and divert your sentence into alternative punishments.

The bottom line is that trying to defend yourself against tax fraud charges without an attorney puts you at an enormous disadvantage. You need a criminal attorney in Alabama who can defend you.

Tax Fraud Defenses in Alabama

If you’ve been charged with tax fraud in Alabama, there are several defenses which your lawyer may use to fight the criminal defense allegations:

Lack of Criminal Intent

For you to be convicted of tax fraud in Alabama, the prosecution has to prove you acted “willfully” and with willful intent to break the law. If your lawyer can show you made an honest mistake, or simply lacked knowledge, they can defend against criminal intent.

Reliance on Tax Professional

You can avoid liability if your attorney demonstrates you reasonably relied on the advice of a tax expert like an accountant or tax attorney.

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Todd Spodek

Lead Attorney & Founder

Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.

NY Bar Admitted Multi-State Licensed Federal Courts

Meet the Full Team

Unreasonable Estimations

Using estimations for figures on your tax returns is allowed and common. Your lawyer can argue any errors resulted from reasonable assessments made in good faith and were not criminal in nature.

Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

You received a letter from the Alabama Department of Revenue stating they are investigating discrepancies in your state tax returns from the past three years, specifically unreported cash income from a side business you ran. A week later, an investigator from the department showed up at your workplace asking to schedule a formal interview.

Should I agree to the interview, and what kind of penalties am I actually facing if they determine I committed tax fraud in Alabama?

Attorney's Answer

Do not agree to any interview or provide any statements to investigators before consulting with an Alabama tax fraud attorney — anything you say can and will be used against you. Under Alabama Code Section 40-29-110, tax evasion is a Class C felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $100,000, while filing a fraudulent return under Section 40-29-111 is a Class D felony with up to 5 years imprisonment. An experienced attorney can intervene early, communicate with the Department of Revenue on your behalf, and potentially negotiate a voluntary disclosure agreement that could significantly reduce or even eliminate criminal charges in exchange for paying back taxes, interest, and civil penalties.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

Statute of Limitations Expired

In Alabama, the statute of limitations for tax fraud is generally three years. The charges can potentially be defeated if it’s been longer than that since the alleged crimes.

Violations of Right to Counsel