Federal Criminal Tax Attorneys in New York
Last updated on May 21, 2026
Being accused of tax crime and facing criminal charges for tax evasion are serious. Our experienced team of criminal defense attorneys at Sapone & Petrillo, LLP, has years of experience handling these complex matters in New York. We take a hands-on approach and examine all areas of a claim. We then can discuss our findings, talk with necessary experts and decide how you can best move forward. Our team of professional attorneys is here to fight for you every step of the way.
Common Criminal Charges For Tax Crimes
There are two common types of criminal tax charges. The first is income tax fraud. This is when your tax return contains information that is materially false. Even though you paid the taxes you were supposed to pay, the information you submit to the IRS has to be accurate. The second is tax evasion. This happens when you owe a certain amount of tax money but did not pay it. The court will say you are evading your tax responsibility. The IRS has computer systems in place meant to catch these errors. They will see that deductions are not the same or easily notice an attempt at fraud on a tax return. Our criminal defense attorneys regularly handle federal charges of fraud and white-collar crimes, including embezzlement, which often intersect with tax offenses when misappropriated funds go unreported. We have the experience to help you defend against any sort of tax crime accusations.
Potential Penalties And Consequences Of Tax Offenses In New York
Tax offenses in New York cover various unlawful activities related to underreporting, evading or falsifying tax obligations. Some of the most common violations include:
- Tax evasion
- Filing false returns
- Failure to pay owed taxes
These offenses can lead to criminal charges at the state and federal levels, making them incredibly serious. Prosecutors do not hesitate to pursue harsh penalties, especially in cases that involve large sums or deliberate fraud.
With tax offense charges, you may face:
- Felony charges for serious offenses like repeated tax fraud or evasion involving large sums.
- Misdemeanor charges for more minor infractions or first-time violations.
- Incarceration ranges from one year in jail for misdemeanors to up to 15 years for felonies.
- Probation periods may follow or replace incarceration, depending on the circumstances.
In addition to jail time, tax offenses carry steep financial consequences, including:
- Fines ranging from $3,000 to $250,000 for individuals, depending on the offense. For example, New York Tax Law § 1804 penalizes repeat tax fraud offenders up to $100,000, while federal penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 7201 can reach $250,000.
- Restitution orders require payment of all unpaid taxes, interest accrued and civil penalties, which can add 25% to 75% of the underpaid amount, depending on the level of fraud.
- For businesses, fines can escalate to $500,000 or more and may include corporate dissolution, especially for willful or repeated violations.
These financial burdens can take years to recover from, especially if the offense impacts ongoing income or business operations. A conviction for a tax offense may also lead to:
- Revocation of professional licenses
- Long-term employment challenges
- Stained personal and professional reputations, which can limit future business partnerships, loans or opportunities.
It is important to note that Federal and New York State authorities often work together, but penalties can differ:
- Federal charges tend to involve larger-scale fraud and carry longer prison terms.
- New York State penalties may include additional surcharges, civil enforcement and public disclosure of offenders.
Therefore, it is vital to understand where the charge originates to help shape the potential outcomes and defense strategies. Outside of the courtroom, you may face:
- Loss of civil rights, including voting rights and firearm ownership in felony cases.
- Asset seizures and government liens placed on property or bank accounts.
These actions can make rebuilding life post-conviction far more difficult. Because the penalties can be severe, the preferred route is working with an experienced tax attorney.
IRS Investigations That Lead To Criminal Tax Charges
If the IRS decides to complete an official audit, it often leads to an investigation and charges. They have forensic accountants and tax specialists look at everything from your bank accounts to your income. To combat that, we hire experts on our side. Specifically, we work with people who used to work for the IRS. This means that they know how the system works, how errors are flagged and how to act accordingly. In certain cases, we are able to work it out so that you just pay what you owe. In situations where that is not the case, we are prepared to defend you. Our team of criminal defense attorneys regularly handles investigations into corporate financials and regulatory compliance issues. No matter how simple or complicated the criminal charges are against you, our firm has the resources to be able to help you understand the accusations you are facing and prepare a strategic defense to fight them.
Seeking Help Sooner Rather Than Later Is Key
It is easy to make mistakes on tax returns. Sloppy accounting is often not done so maliciously. Miscommunications between a taxpayer and tax preparer are more common than one might think. All of these are reasonable defenses we have used for our clients. As soon as you get a call from the Criminal Investigations division of the IRS, call an experienced attorney to make sure this is handled quickly and correctly.
Has The IRS Accused You Of Tax Fraud Or Tax Evasion? Call Now.
Our criminal defense team regularly handles white collar crime charges and accusations of tax fraud and tax evasion. No matter how complicated your tax issue might be, our criminal defense lawyers can help. You can schedule an appointment by calling 212-349-9000 or sending an email through our website.