Tax Evasion and Fraud

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) takes tax evasion and fraud very seriously, imposing stiff fines and even prison sentences for those who actively avoid paying their share of income taxes. The IRS also realizes that the tax code is so complex that sometimes honest mistakes, or acts of negligence, can have the appearance of criminal activity. In any case, tax problems can become increasingly troublesome for taxpayers who fail to resolve their issues. This section covers the difference between income tax fraud and negligence, the consequences of not paying one's taxes and how to avoid tax-filing behavior the IRS may consider criminal or fraudulent.