What Do These People Have in Common?
Here’s a Quick Quiz……What do these people have in common: Chuck Berry, Ron Isley (of the Isley Brothers), Richard Hatch (of “Survivor” fame), Heidi Fleiss, Sophia Loren, Martha Stewart. If you answered: “they’re all celebrities.” Well, that’s partially right. If you guessed: “they’re all celebrities who went to jail on tax evasion charges.” You guessed right!
Do you know when the IRS has the option of sending you to jail? One of the first things that people ask me after I hear what their IRS problems is…“Well…what do you think? Is the IRS going to send me to jail?” That’s an easy question, really. Because the answer only really has two criteria: Did you file your taxes…or did you not file your taxes?
If you've accurately filed your taxes you cannot get sent to jail. If you've accurately filed your taxes, but you just haven't paid the tax, you cannot get sent to jail. Owing the IRS money is not considered a crime.
But don't break out the bubbly just yet...Although jail time is arguably the worst thing that can happen, it's not the only 'punishment' from the IRS that you should be wary of. By not taking action and facing your IRS debt problem, you could be looking into the ugly eyes of...*Wage garnishment * Seizure of your real estate * Seizure of Social Security benefits * Seizure of 401(k)'s, IRA's, * Seizure of Cars / Boats / Houses * Seizure of Accounts Receivable * Seizure of Cash Loan Value of Your Life Insurance * Seizure of Commissions Owed to You.
You can go to jail if you haven't filed your taxes >>> OR <<< Even if you've filed your taxes inaccurately. Not filing your taxes is considered a crime by the IRS. You can receive one year of prison time for each year that you don't file. Procrastinating only makes your chances of doing jail time that much worse. The IRS doesn't take kindly to those it has to "chase down". …And they will eventually chase you down, trust me. It doesn't matter if it's been a few years and it seems like you've somehow "slipped through the cracks". You haven't. Just ask our celebrity friends listed above.
Even they didn’t “slip through the cracks". Don't believe that you kind somehow get off "footloose & fancy-free" if you haven't filed your taxes. Slipping through the cracks just doesn't happen. However, the more willing you are to face up to your problem and seek a solution, the more likely it is that the IRS won't even threaten prosecution.
Why go through life being paranoid, looking over your shoulder, wondering when the IRS is going to jump out from the bushes and finally "call in your chips?" Life's too short to live this way. Even if it's been years since you've filed, you can get the IRS "monkey" off your back, once and for all…even if you feel your situation is hopeless.
In this situation, it's a very bad idea to go it alone without legal help. If you are ready to take action, please call the Tax Attorney Mary E. King at (941) 906-7585.
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posted by Mary E. King on Tue., Sep 27th, 2011 in Florida IRS Tax Attorney Legal Services Tax Evasion Tax Law Tax Problems |
