Colorado anti-tax advocate found guilty of tax evasion

A Denver jury found Doug Bruce, a notorious anti-tax activist, guilty of tax evasion, filing false income tax forms and failure to file a return or pay taxes.

Bruce faces up to 12 years in jail $700,000 in fines, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. Bruce, however, plans to appeal. He was required to surrender his passport because he is believed to be a flight risk.

Prosecutors stated that Bruce, a former lawmaker used his anti-tax group “Active Citizens Together” to hide his income. They believe that between 2005 and 2007, the former El Paso County Commissioner funneled his income into the group.

His sentencing is scheduled for February 13, 2012.

Bruce has in the past said this indictment was a form of retaliation for his anti-tax stance. He has been a controversial political figure once calling immigrants “illiterate peasants.” He also once kicked a photographer on the floor of Colorado’s House of Representatives.

Beating any criminal tax charges can be difficult, but it is possible with the help if an experienced tax attorney.

Failure to pay or file yearly income tax can create a number of headaches for a person and if not addressed in a timely manner can lead to criminal charges. A tax lawyer can keep the IRS off your back and negotiate a payment plan so criminal charges can be avoided. Not only can a tax attorney negotiate payments, but they can also prevent wage garnishment and tax liens.