Busted for Tax Evasion in Queens? Get the IRS Off Your Back with a Lawyer’s Help

Busted for Tax Evasion in Queens? Get the IRS Off Your Back with a Lawyer’s Help

Getting that letter from the IRS saying you’re being audited for tax evasion is scary stuff. Believe me, I know. I’m just a regular guy who got caught up in some shady tax stuff a few years back. Long story short, I ended up getting charged with tax evasion in Queens. It was the most stressful time of my life.

But with the help of a good tax attorney, I was able to get the charges reduced and work out a payment plan with the IRS. Now I’m in the clear and getting on with my life. So if you’re going through something similar, don’t panic. Here’s my advice on how to deal with tax evasion charges and get the IRS off your back once and for all.

Don’t Try to Handle This Alone

I made the mistake of thinking I could negotiate with the IRS myself. That was dumb. The tax code is super complicated, and the IRS agents are experts at getting people to incriminate themselves accidentally. So your first move should be to hire a qualified tax attorney. Look for someone with specific experience dealing with tax evasion and fraud charges. This is not the time to cheap out on legal fees. A good lawyer is the only thing standing between you and huge fines or even jail time.

Understand the Charges Against You

Tax evasion can mean a lot of things, like hiding income, inflating deductions, lying on your returns, not filing at all, etc. The penalties depend on the specifics of your case. Your lawyer will thoroughly explain the charges so you know exactly what you’re up against. For example, I was accused of concealing side income from freelance work. Just understanding the details helped me see I wasn’t totally screwed.

Don’t Try to Cover Anything Up

A big mistake people make is trying to hide assets or continue dodging taxes even after getting caught. This will only make things worse! Come clean to your lawyer about everything. The more they know, the better defense they can build. Plus if you voluntarily pay back taxes before your court date, it shows good faith. My lawyer was able to get my charges reduced by presenting all my finances and proving I was ready to make things right.

Explore Your Legal Options

Your lawyer will look for holes in the IRS’s case and figure out the best legal strategy. Maybe the IRS missed deadlines or didn’t follow procedure correctly. There are lots of technicalities that could get charges dismissed or reduced. Don’t plead guilty right away without exploring your options! In my case, my lawyer discovered a mistake in how the IRS calculated my owed taxes. This gave us leverage to negotiate a better settlement.

Negotiate with the IRS

Rather than battling it out in court, your lawyer can try to work out a deal with the IRS directly. This could mean reduced penalties or avoiding jail time in exchange for paying back taxes, interest, and fines. I ended up pleading to a misdemeanor tax fraud charge and got 5 years probation plus had to pay about $45,000 to the IRS. Not fun but better than the felony charges they originally hit me with.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Part of negotiating should involve setting up a reasonable payment plan with the IRS. This spreads out what you owe over time so it’s not impossible to pay back. My lawyer got the IRS to give me a 5 year payment plan at a pretty low interest rate. They can even take it directly from your paychecks each month. This takes the stress out of owing a huge lump sum all at once.

Avoid Jail Time

For serious tax evasion involving large amounts of money, prosecutors may push for jail time. This leverage helps them pressure you into taking a plea deal. But in many cases, jail time can be avoided by cooperating fully, paying back taxes promptly, and having a clean record. First offenders like me are more likely to get probation. But your lawyer needs to make a strong case to the judge to stay out of prison.

Deal with State Tax Issues

I assumed that settling things with the IRS would be the end of it. Wrong! Many states also came after me for unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties. So don’t forget to deal with state tax agencies too. Luckily, my IRS payment plan covered the states too, with their cooperation. But it’s something to keep in mind.

Rebuild Your Credit

After settling your tax issues, work on rebuilding your credit. Unpaid taxes can seriously damage your score. But as you make payments on time, it will improve. After a few years of good payment history, you can qualify for loans again. I was able to buy a house last year since my credit finally recovered.

Learn from This!

I know dealing with tax evasion charges is scary as hell. But millions of Americans get busted for tax issues and make it through okay. Just don’t panic, be honest, and let an experienced lawyer handle negotiations. You’ll still probably have to pay fines and back taxes, but following this advice can help reduce penalties and avoid jail time. Consider this a wake up call to follow the tax laws closely from now on!

Good luck getting the IRS monkey off your back. And let my experience be a lesson about the consequences of tax games. It’s just not worth the stress and penalties in the long run. Pay your taxes on time from now on, and you’ll sleep much better!

References

How Do You Report Suspected Tax Fraud Activity? [1]

What if I need legal representation to help with my tax problem but can’t afford it? [2]

Tax Return Preparer Fraud [3]

Contact Your Local IRS Office [4]

Reporting Fraud and Abuse Within the IRS e-file Program [5]

Tax Crimes Handbook [6]