Each year, all citizens of America, including California, must submit their tax returns to the federal and state governments. Many Americans become frustrated by the complexity of the American taxpayer system when taxes are due. This is known as tax season. It is tempting to simply forget all about it. Failure to file tax returns can result in severe penalties. However, Californians fail to file or forget their taxes every year.
Although the exact number of Californians who fail to file taxes changes each year, it is clear that this is a very common offense. Many people fail to file their taxes on the due date or do not file them at any time. People neglect to file their taxes for many reasons. There are many reasons people neglect their taxes. Common reasons are forgetting to pay taxes and not understanding the legal requirements. Others may have other reasons to forge their taxes. If you’re being penalized for not filing your California taxes, legal representation might be necessary.
Most people consider failure to file taxes a minor offense. Although it may not seem like a major offense, failure to file taxes can have serious consequences. For assistance, contact our California tax returns attorneys.
How Often Do People Not File Their Taxes In California?
It is common to forget or fail to file taxes. The state and federal governments allow people to apply for extensions to avoid paying late penalties. Many people don’t file taxes, so criminally punishing them all would be very difficult, if it wasn’t impossible. If the government finds out that you haven’t paid your taxes they can pursue you. The government will usually just ask you to pay what you owe. You are unlikely to be sent to jail if you can pay the money.
If you fail to file taxes for years, your situation could become even more serious. Your penalties could be higher if you fail to file more tax returns. Additional criminal penalties can be imposed for crimes such as tax evasion.
It is not a serious offense to fail to file tax returns even once or twice. If you don’t take action, it can end up costing you dearly in the long term. For assistance with your tax situation, call our tax returns attorneys.
California Taxes: Why Californians Fail To Pay
There are many reasons why people don’t file taxes. One of the most common reasons people don’t file their taxes is that they don’t understand how important they are. Taxes are new for people who have never filed taxes before. People may dismiss the responsibility of filing taxes, as it can be confusing and frustrating. Our team of California tax attorneys can help you with your taxes.
Sometimes, people forget to file taxes. Taxes are due every year around April. Many people live busy and hectic lives that make it easy for their taxes to slip by. Sometimes, they don’t realize that they haven’t paid their taxes by the due date.
Some people deliberately fail to file tax returns. They often try to cheat the system and don’t pay their taxes, hoping that nobody notices. If the government discovers that you have not filed taxes, and believes you intentionally did so, you may be charged criminally.
You would likely avoid criminal charges if your failure to file taxes was an honest error or because you were unable to remember. You will still have to pay penalties and the money you owe. Our Orange County tax return lawyers will help you to sort out the mess and resolve your tax situation.
California Taxes Not Filled: The Consequences
Failure to file tax returns can result in severe penalties. Your reason for not filing your taxes will determine the severity of your penalties. Your penalty for honest errors will be lower and easier to manage. If your failure is the result of willful negligence, however, you could face more severe penalties. You may also face higher penalties if you owe more taxes. The California tax return lawyers can help you navigate this complex problem.
Taxpayers who fail to file tax returns in California will be subject to a penalty fee equal to 5% of the amount due for each month that payments are past due. The penalty fee will not exceed 25% of the total amount due. If you owe $1,000 you will have to pay $50 per month for unpaid taxes. You will not be required to pay any penalty higher than $250.
Your penalties could increase if you fail to pay taxes deliberately or as part of fraud schemes. For each month that your taxes remain unpaid, you would be required to pay a 15% penalty fee. In this case, the penalty would be limited to 75%. If you owe $1,000 in taxes, you will be subject to a $150 penalty for each month you are late. However, no more than $750 in penalties is allowed.
This article was written by Alla Tenina. Alla is a top tax attorney in Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles California, and the founder of Tenina law. She has experience in bankruptcies, real estate planning, and complex tax matters. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; the ABA and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
