What To Look For When Hiring A Tax Evasion Lawyer
People who receive a letter from IRS about possible tax evasion charges should start shopping around for a Tax Evasion Lawyer immediately. Tax evasion is a serious charge that can lead to five years of jail time and a hefty fine. Believe it or not, Al Capone, a famous Chicago gangster back during the Prohibition era, was not convicted due to gang-related crimes but because he was evading taxes. There was simply no hard evidence to back up any murder charges, but there was a lot of evidence in the accounting books. If you are currently looking for a Tax Evasion Lawyer, then here are three things that you need to look out for when talking to one.
Find out if tax evasion is his specialty
Some people will advise you to get a referral from a close friend for a lawyer. Unfortunately, our brushes with the law are often not the same, and you may not have a friend who can point you to a lawyer who specializes in dealing with the IRS. You need a Tax Evasion Lawyer who deals with the IRS on a constant basis, and represents clients who have had the same situation as yours. Your goal is get someone who knows the ins and outs of getting out of this mess. Remember that the possible consequence is a maximum of five years in jail as well as penalties that can amount to a hundred thousand dollars.
Review his track record
If you are talking to someone who topped the bar but has no practical experience in tax evasion, forget it. Your goal is to get someone who has successfully defended clients--not someone who has textbook knowledge about tax law. While you will not get personal guarantees that they will keep you out of prison, you will want a guarantee that they will do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. If there is absolutely no way of escaping tax evasion charges because there is compelling evidence against you, your lawyer must be able to convince the court that it was out of neglect or ignorance to lower the fines.
Check the case load
You may think that you scored an awesome deal with a Tax Evasion Lawyer whose retainer or hourly fees fit your budget until you realize that you are working with someone who has too many clients on his hands. In fact, you may be better off working with an attorney who may be more expensive, but will have the time to focus on you and your special situation. If that will keep you out of jail, then it is certainly worth the fees.
Choosing the best Tax Evasion Lawyer is difficult especially when you are already quite panicked about having to face the IRS. When shopping around for a Tax Evasion Lawyer, however, it is extremely important to keep your head cool and choose the one that has the experience and time to help you win or keep your fines as low as possible. Keep in mind that a tax evasion charge is a criminal offense that can have serious consequences for you and your family.
Find out if tax evasion is his specialty
Some people will advise you to get a referral from a close friend for a lawyer. Unfortunately, our brushes with the law are often not the same, and you may not have a friend who can point you to a lawyer who specializes in dealing with the IRS. You need a Tax Evasion Lawyer who deals with the IRS on a constant basis, and represents clients who have had the same situation as yours. Your goal is get someone who knows the ins and outs of getting out of this mess. Remember that the possible consequence is a maximum of five years in jail as well as penalties that can amount to a hundred thousand dollars.
Review his track record
If you are talking to someone who topped the bar but has no practical experience in tax evasion, forget it. Your goal is to get someone who has successfully defended clients--not someone who has textbook knowledge about tax law. While you will not get personal guarantees that they will keep you out of prison, you will want a guarantee that they will do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. If there is absolutely no way of escaping tax evasion charges because there is compelling evidence against you, your lawyer must be able to convince the court that it was out of neglect or ignorance to lower the fines.
Check the case load
You may think that you scored an awesome deal with a Tax Evasion Lawyer whose retainer or hourly fees fit your budget until you realize that you are working with someone who has too many clients on his hands. In fact, you may be better off working with an attorney who may be more expensive, but will have the time to focus on you and your special situation. If that will keep you out of jail, then it is certainly worth the fees.
Choosing the best Tax Evasion Lawyer is difficult especially when you are already quite panicked about having to face the IRS. When shopping around for a Tax Evasion Lawyer, however, it is extremely important to keep your head cool and choose the one that has the experience and time to help you win or keep your fines as low as possible. Keep in mind that a tax evasion charge is a criminal offense that can have serious consequences for you and your family.
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