Tax Fraud
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Tax fraud occurs when an individual or business entity willfully and intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit the amount of tax liability. Tax fraud is said to be evident if the taxpayer is found to have: Purposely failed to file his income tax return Misrepresented the actual state of his affairs so as to falsely claim tax deductions or tax credits Intentionally failed to pay his tax debt Prepared and filed a false return Deliberately failed to report all income received A business that engages in tax fraud may: Knowingly fail to file payroll tax reports Wittingly fail to report some or all of the cash payments made to employees Hire an outside payroll service that doesn't turn over funds to the IRS Fail to withhold federal income tax or FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions) taxes from employee paychecks Fail to report and pay any withheld payroll taxes For example, claiming an exemption for a nonexistent dependent to reduce tax liability is clearly fraud, while applying the long-term capital gain rate to a short-term earning may be looked into more to determine whether its negligence. Tax evasion, or illegally avoiding payment of taxes owed, may be construed as an example of tax fraud. Tax fraud costs the government millions of dollars a year. Tax fraud is a different issue than tax avoidance or negligence. Failing to report and pay payroll taxes is an example of business tax fraud. Given that the tax code in the U.S. is a complex compilation of tax imposition and laws, a lot of tax preparers are bound to make careless errors. Tax fraud is not the same as tax avoidance, which is the legal use of loopholes in the tax laws to reduce oneâs tax expenses. Tax fraud occurs when an individual or business entity willfully and intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit the amount of tax liability.

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What is Tax Fraud?
Tax fraud occurs when an individual or business entity willfully and intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit the amount of tax liability. Tax fraud essentially entails cheating on a tax return in an attempt to avoid paying the entire tax obligation. Examples of tax fraud include claiming false deductions; claiming personal expenses as business expenses; using a false Social Security number; and not reporting income.
Tax evasion, or illegally avoiding payment of taxes owed, may be construed as an example of tax fraud.
Understanding Tax Fraud
Tax fraud involves the deliberate misrepresentation or omission of data on a tax return. In the United States, taxpayers are bound by a legal duty to file a tax return voluntarily and to pay the correct amount of income, employment, sales, and excise taxes.
Failure to do so by falsifying or withholding information is against the law and constitutes tax fraud. Tax fraud is investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (CI) unit. Tax fraud is said to be evident if the taxpayer is found to have:
A business that engages in tax fraud may:
Tax Fraud vs. Negligence or Avoidance
For example, claiming an exemption for a nonexistent dependent to reduce tax liability is clearly fraud, while applying the long-term capital gain rate to a short-term earning may be looked into more to determine whether its negligence. Although mistakes attributed to negligence are non-intentional, the IRS may still fine a negligent taxpayer with a penalty of 20 percent of the underpayment. Famous people throughout the world have been guilty of tax fraud, such as Lionel Messi.
Given that the tax code in the U.S. is a complex compilation of tax imposition and laws, a lot of tax preparers are bound to make careless errors.
Tax fraud is not the same as tax avoidance, which is the legal use of loopholes in the tax laws to reduce oneâs tax expenses. Although tax avoidance is not a direct violation of the law, it is frowned upon by tax authorities as it may compromise the overall spirit of tax law.
Special Considerations
Tax fraud cheats the government out of millions of dollars every year and is punishable by fines, penalties, interest, or prison time. Generally, an entity is not considered to be guilty of tax evasion unless the failure to pay is deemed intentional. Tax fraud does not include mistakes or accidental reporting, which the IRS calls negligent reporting.
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Terms in Tax Fraud
Abusive Tax Shelter
An abusive tax shelter is an illegal investment scheme that claims to reduce income tax without changing the value of the user's income or assets. read more
Custom Adjustable Rate Debt Structure (CARDS)
The Custom Adjustable Rate Debt Structure is a formerly used tax shelter product that artificially created losses for tax purposes. read more
Form 211: Application for Award for Original Information
Form 211 is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form for informants to submit, reporting those who are evading taxes, to receive an award. read more
Mossack Fonseca
Mossack Fonseca was a Panama-based law firm that became notorious in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal. read more
The Panama Papers
The Panama Papers refer to the 11.5 million leaked encrypted confidential documents that were the property of Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. read more
Paradise Papers
The Paradise Papers are leaked documents that pulled back the curtain on the offshore activities of companies and wealthy individuals. read more
Tax Cheat
A tax cheat is an individual or group who, through fraud, dishonesty, or avoidance, does not pay the obligatory amount of tax they owe. read more
Tax Fraud
Tax fraud occurs when an individual or business entity willfully and intentionally falsifies information on a tax return to limit tax liability. read more
Tax Evasion
Tax evasion is an illegal practice where a person or entity intentionally does not pay due taxes. read more