The IRS isn’t the only agency that will go after you on charges of tax evasion or tax fraud. The Connecticut Department of Revenue Service’s website also encourages individuals to report suspected tax fraud. Notably, the IRS also has local field offices, and inter-agency cooperation may be utilized when tracking down suspected criminal tax activity.
An IRS special agent assigned to New England recently collaborated with the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut in charging a Connecticut man with filing false tax returns for tax years 2009 through 2012. The man allegedly failed to report around $260,000 in taxable income.
A federal grand jury recently returned an indictment, which means the case will now proceed to a criminal trial. If convicted on all four counts, the man could face up to 12 years of imprisonment. Pending trial, the man has pleaded not guilty and been released on a $50,000 bond.
Readers may not regard tax disputes as criminal activity belonging in the same category as other penalties. However, the truth is that a conviction for tax fraud or tax evasion might carry comparable penalties, including jail.
What this means is that an individual should take care if approached by an IRS special agent. Any disclosures he or she makes might be used as evidentiary admissions, possibly in support of charges. A wise strategy would be to consult with an attorney as soon as IRS officials or other authorities approach you. Our Connecticut tax law firm has helped clients facing a variety of criminal tax allegations, including tax fraud, tax evasion, failure to file returns, and other matters.
Source: Norwich Bulletin, “East Lyme bail bonds agent indicted on tax charges,” Ryan Blessing, Jan. 3, 2017