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Criminal Defense » White Collar Crime Tax Fraud / Evasion

If you are in Louisiana and are under pressure from the IRS, you need an aggressive federal tax attorney who will fight for your reputation and your freedom. Make Bloom Legal your tax attorney – call us today at 504.599.9997.

Tax evasion and tax fraud are very closely related crimes. For either one of these offenses, you may be charged by either the state government, for failing to follow the guidelines of the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR), or by the federal government, for failing to follow the guidelines of the IRS. Obviously, if you are accused of evading state taxes, this will lead to a Louisiana tax evasion charge, while if you are accused of evading federal taxes you will be charged with a federal crime. Frequently, however, a person accused of Louisiana tax fraud or evasion may have committed a similar error or fraud on their federal tax returns, leading to the possibility of a federal tax charge as well.

The difference between Louisiana tax fraud and tax evasion charges

According to the Louisiana Department of Revenue, "Fraud is a deception deliberately practiced to secure unfair or unlawful gain. Another definition is the intentional misrepresentation of truth in order to obtain something of value by inducing another to rely upon false information." A wide variety of offenses are included in the LDR's definition of tax fraud, including:

  • Intentionally failing to file a tax return
  • Submitting fraudulent returns
  • Lying on tax forms to understate income or overstate business expenses
  • Selling cigarettes, alcohol, or other items without the proper excise tax added
  • Operating a business unregistered with the LDR
  • Other personal and/or business offenses

The criteria for a charge of tax evasion are difficult to distinguish from those for tax fraud. In Louisiana, you will be charged with tax evasion if you can be accused of using deception or deceit to somehow circumvent the laws and avoid your tax burden.

These are state felony charges. If you have been charged with one of these crimes, or believe you are under investigation, please retain a defense attorney as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance to remain free.

Federal tax fraud, law and sentences

The federal law for tax fraud comes from the US Code for the Internal Revenue Service. 26 USC § 7201 reads:

Any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ($500,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.

As you can see, a conviction for federal tax fraud comes with a very steep price. What's more, if you are a high-profile business owner or public figure, these types of charges can do enormous damage to your reputation, even if you are never convicted. At Bloom Legal, we will work to minimize your exposure through the media, so that both your freedom and your reputation are preserved.

You should not be charged with tax fraud or evasion unless the offense was willfully committed. In other words, if the alleged fraud was actually the result of an honest mistake or occurred because of the malpractice of dishonest financial consultants, you should not be charged with fraud or evasion at either the state or federal level. If this is the case, Bloom Legal will negotiate with investigators and prosecutors to prove your point and have the charges dropped. You should note that you may still have to pay back taxes or fines as a result of the mistake, but you should not have to face the criminal proceedings or penalties.

Wherever you are in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area, if you have been charged with or are under investigation for tax fraud or tax evasion, choose Bloom legal for your dedicated defense team. Whether yours is a federal or a Louisiana tax charge, Bloom Legal has the resources and the skills to craft an expert defense to minimize your charges and penalties. Call Bloom Legal today to schedule a free consultation with an aggressive New Orleans tax fraud defense attorney.

-Bloom Legal LLC 700 Camp St Ste 212 New Orleans, La 70130-

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