Tax evasion is the criminal offense of a person or entity using illegal methods to avoid paying the person or entity’s true tax liability. The Internal Revenue Code—a federal statute located in the United States Code—states that “[a]ny person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this title or the payment thereof shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ($500,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.” 26 U.S.C. §7201.

Tax evasion is also a criminal offense under state law when a person or en,tity uses illegal methods to avoid paying state income, property, sales, franchise, payroll, and other taxes.

In North Carolina, tax evasion is considered a serious criminal offense, both under federal and state law. Federally, as per the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. §7201), any individual or entity that willfully attempts to evade or defeat any tax or its payment is committing a felony. The penalties for such an offense can include a fine of up to $100,000 for individuals ($500,000 for corporations), imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both, along with the costs of prosecution. Similarly, under North Carolina state law, it is illegal to use any unlawful means to avoid paying state taxes, which include income, property, sales, franchise, payroll, and other state-imposed taxes. The state statutes provide for penalties that may include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the offense and the amount of tax evaded. The North Carolina Department of Revenue is responsible for tax enforcement and works in conjunction with federal authorities to prosecute tax evasion cases.