Unreported Income (IRS) - Criminal Penalties - Tax Preparers

Clients, with unreported income, may subject tax7203.)
preparers to criminal penalties, fines, costs of3) Any person who willfully aids or assists in, or
prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment (2procures, counsels, or advises the preparation or
felonies, 2 misdemeanors):presentation of a return, affidavit, claim, or other
1) Any person who willfully attempts in any manner todocument under the tax laws that is fraudulent or false
evade or defeat any tax or payment of any taxas to any material matter is guilty of a felony. This
imposed by the Code is guilty of a felony. A personprovision applies regardless of whether or not the
convicted of tax evasion may be fined up to $100,000taxpayer knows or consents to the falsity or fraud. A
($500,000 for a corporation) or imprisoned not moreperson convicted of this offense may be fined up to
than five years or both, together with the costs of$100,000 ($500,000 for a corporation) or imprisoned
prosecution. This penalty is in addition to any othernot more than three years or both, together with the
penalties provided by law. (IRS § 7201.)costs of prosecution. (IRC § 7206.)
2) Any person required by the Code or regulations to4) Any person who fails to comply with a summons
file a return, keep any records or supply anyissued under the Code that calls for testimony or for
information who willfully fails to file the return, keep thethe production of books or documents and neglects to
records or supply the information is guilty of aappear or to produce the books or documents has
misdemeanor. A person convicted of this offense maycommitted a crime. A person convicted of this offense
be fined up to $25,000 ($100,000 for a corporation) ormay be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not
imprisoned not more than one year or both, togethermore than one year or both, together with costs of
with the costs of prosecution. This penalty is in additionprosecution. (IRC § 7210.
to any other penalties provided by law. (IRC §