If you are facing federal criminal charges for a tax crime, Bristol C. Myers is the experienced federal tax crimes lawyer you can trust to thoroughly investigate your case and provide an innovative and relentless defense. Call now 512-478-2100 or connect online.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigates potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related offenses under Title 18. To encourage broad compliance with tax regulations and maximize the deterrent effect on would-be tax violators, the IRS focuses on sophisticated criminal schemes and large financial transactions, especially those involving high-net-worth individuals and prominent members of society.
When IRS agents first contact a taxpayer who is a potential target of a criminal investigation, IRS rules mandate the agents identify themselves and inform the taxpayer of the pending investigation.
Taxpayers under investigation have a natural human tendency to want to explain their side of the story or to put a positive spin on what they tell the special agent or criminal investigator. However, in speaking with an agent you may inadvertently say something to spark further investigative interest in your case, open yourself to non-tax related criminal charges, or possibly make a false statement to the agents.
If you are approached by the IRS, you should immediately seek the advice of a federal tax crimes lawyer and discuss nothing with the IRS agents unless accompanied by an attorney.
After completing its investigation, IRS Criminal Investigations Division may refer a case to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for criminal charges or to investigate further with a grand jury.
If a federal tax crimes lawyer is engaged early enough in the investigation, the IRS might allow counsel to meet with the Special Agent in Charge to convince the IRS not to refer the case to DOJ. Similarly, for cases already referred to DOJ by the IRS, the DOJ’s Tax Division will arrange a taxpayer conference for the defense attorney to meet with the Tax Division attorney assigned to the case. Both of these conferences are opportunities to convince the government not to bring charges, or at least to impact the severity of the charges filed.
Tax laws are complex, but criminal tax violations fall into a few general categories:
- Tax Evasion
- Failure to Collect Tax
- Failure to File Taxes
- Tax Fraud
- Interference with Internal Revenue Laws
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