| When a taxpayer learns they will be under | | | | relevant to your case. Your attorney will prove |
| Internal Revenue Service investigation and | | | | invaluable during this initial meeting. They will do |
| scrutiny for failing to file returns, knowingly filing | | | | everything in their power to try and prove you |
| false returns, or delinquent in paying their taxes, | | | | did not intentionally set out to commit the criminal |
| they should retain a criminal tax attorney as | | | | act of tax evasion and will assist you in answering |
| quickly as possible. | | | | the charges so that you do not incriminate |
| Tax evasion, or tax fraud, is considered a serious | | | | yourself in error. Details will be extremely |
| offense, especially where the IRS is concerned, | | | | important during this meeting and you must have |
| and they will not be concerned with whether or | | | | your rights protected at all times. Remember, the |
| not the offense was intentional or merely an | | | | sole purpose of the IRS agent is to prosecute |
| oversight; they will only be interested in acquiring | | | | you for assumed transgressions and they will not |
| that which they feel you owe or sending you off | | | | be concerned with your rights. It will be up to you |
| to jail should you fail to comply. The accused | | | | to protect yourself throughout this procedure. |
| taxpayer of a criminal prosecution for any kind of | | | | A taxpayer may be unable to get their audit |
| tax fraud needs to respond with the correct legal | | | | issues resolved with the IRS agent or the IRS |
| documentation and evidence and as a result | | | | appeals officer. If this is the case, you will then |
| attorney preparation is extremely important to | | | | need to go into the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court |
| waging a successful defense against them. | | | | of Claims, or the U.S. District Court to continue to |
| The Internal Revenue Service is one of the most | | | | contest the allegations against you. Your attorney |
| powerful and feared branches of the Government | | | | will participate in these hearings and communicate |
| and they will be actively involved in the criminal | | | | directly with the IRS lawyers, in order to present |
| proceedings. They are skilled in the fine art of | | | | them with all the relevant information concerning |
| intimidation and the last thing you want to do is | | | | your alleged IRS tax evasion. Attempting to |
| face them alone. It is imperative that you seek | | | | represent your rights and interest by yourself in |
| the counsel of a criminal tax attorney before you | | | | this type of legal proceeding would be foolish. A |
| attend the first meeting with the IRS agent to | | | | criminal tax attorney at your side will be crucial to |
| determine whether or not the offense was | | | | your defense in order to avoid losing your home |
| intentional. | | | | or going to jail. |
| The IRS agent will ask for all evidence they feel is | | | | |