The legendary actor was indicted in 2008 for tax evasion and has been in a Pennsylvania facility where he’ll stay since the Supreme Court denied his appeal. The US Appeals Court denied a July 2010 appellate filing.
Between 1999 and 2001, Snipes failed to pay income taxes and was given the mandatory sentence, one year of jail time for each of the three counts of tax evasion. During this time the “Blade” actor failed to pay $40 million in taxes. Hiring a competent tax attorney could help prevent a jail sentence and set up a re-payment plan for people accused of tax evasion.
Snipes had two co-defendants, Edie Kahn and Douglas Rosile, who wrongfully informed the actor that he didn’t have to file tax returns for the years between 1999 and 2005. They also assisted him in filing false refund claims in the millions. The two co-defendants were convicted of felony tax conspiracy and fraud. Snipes was only charged with failing to file returns and not fraud or conspiracy.
Failing to file a tax return will make a tax lawyer a necessity for anyone who thinks they can fool Uncle Sam. The IRS needs to recover income tax so they will employ many different means to collect. For the person who simply can’t pay at tax time; hiring a tax attorney can help reduce penalties and fines and may be able to keep a person from serving jail time.
