Some people may think that defending against a white-collar criminal charge means that, even if the defendant is convicted, there isn’t much of a consequence. Tthe reality is that many white-collar crimes are federal-level charges, and the consequences can be quite serious, including potential prison time.
Tax fraud, for example, is a white-collar crime that could land a defendant in prison and also result in serious fines as well. The essence of a tax fraud charge is usually that a person is attempting to “trick” the Internal Revenue Service when it comes to tax liability. Oftentimes, this can include false reporting to the IRS in order to lower a person’s overall tax liability.
There is one key aspect to a tax fraud charge: intent. The tax laws in America are incredibly complicated. It is hard enough for the average person to sit down each year and calculate their tax liability correctly. In order for a federal agency to pursue a tax fraud charge against an individual, an essential part of proving the crime is that the defendant didn’t just make a mistake; they intentionally committed the acts in question, or willfully engaged in the illegal tax fraud conduct.
Planning your defense
If you find yourself facing a federal criminal charge, be sure to get the right information about your available options to plan your defense strategy. No two cases are the same and, when it comes to tax fraud charges in particular, the requirement of proving intent can be a crucial basis for defending against the charges.