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Criminal Tax Defense

Tax-related criminal charges can be extremely damaging to you, your business, and your other financial ventures. If you are under criminal investigation by the taxing authorities, or suspect you soon will be, it is essential to take prompt action by consulting a Los Angeles criminal tax defense lawyer. The tax specialists at the Ben-Cohen Law Firm have the professional knowledge of both a Board-Certified tax attorney and a CPA, and years of experience defending successful people against state or federal criminal tax charges.

We can provide you with the highest quality representation and personal attention to your case. We investigate and determine the relevant facts, analyze the possible defenses, and respond to developments of an ongoing investigation. Serving clients in Los Angeles and beyond, our criminal tax defense attorneys know the policies and procedures of the IRS and the Department of Justice, and we make every effort to resolve cases favorably for the client at an early stage by presenting factual and legal defenses aimed at avoiding criminal charges.

The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Criminal Investigations Division has one of the highest success rates of any federal agency, as 92 percent of the cases it sends to the Justice Department’s Tax Division result in criminal convictions. The most common charges pursued by the IRS include allegations of filing false income tax returns, failure to file returns, failure to report all income, fraudulently overstated deductions, failure to collect and pay employment taxes, conspiracy to impede or obstruct the IRS, making false statements or submitting false documentation to the IRS, as well as other tax-related crimes. Additionally, the California Franchise Tax Board’s criminal investigations program pursues suspected cases of failing to file tax returns, filing a false income tax return, and refund fraud at the state level.

When the Criminal Investigation Division begins pursuing a taxpayer, it must obtain approval from the IRS and, after that, send the case on to federal prosecutors. This multi-step process gives you, and your attorney, multiple opportunities to resolve your case. At each step, you have the chance to convince the government that the criminal case is unfounded, or attempt to explain any misunderstanding that has contributed to the government’s case. By doing so, you can minimize the chances of prosecution.

Taxpayers who are facing a civil tax matter, like an audit or collections matter, may be referred to the Criminal Investigation Division if the IRS agent detects possible fraud. When there is a criminal referral, the Criminal Investigation Division reviews the information provided by the IRS agent conducting the audit or collecting the tax liability. If the Criminal Investigation Division determines there is sufficient evidence of criminal activity, it may execute search warrants, subpoena bank records, conduct surveillance, and interview third party witnesses.

Quick, Decisive Action is Essential

In both the civil and criminal spheres, penalties for tax-related charges can be severe. Fast action in obtaining legal representation can significantly influence outcomes, as your criminal tax defense attorney can help you put together a thorough, comprehensive defense plan as soon as you believe criminal investigation is a possibility. In some cases, even if you or your business are the subject of a criminal tax probe, cooperation with the investigating authority may yield positive results. Cooperation may allow you to avoid an indictment or other negative consequences. Additionally, taking steps early on to retain a qualified Los Angeles criminal tax defense attorney may help minimize the penalties you incur.

It is equally important to note that statements you make to an IRS Special Agent can be used against you in your criminal case. A capable, experienced criminal tax defense attorney can guide you through which steps to take, and which to avoid, in dealing with the IRS or state tax authorities. In addition, accessing the expertise of a CPA and a Board-Certified tax attorney, offers additional advantages as communications with your tax lawyer, unlike those with your accountant, are subject to the attorney-client privilege.

If you have a potential criminal tax issue, contact the tax attorneys at the Ben-Cohen Law Firm. Based in Los Angeles, our dedicated criminal tax defense lawyers have the knowledge and experience to minimize the harm to you and your business.


Client Reviews
I approached Mr. Ben-Cohen regarding a pending case with the State of California and my small business. During a time that was quite stressful, I found Mr. Ben-Cohen to be the perfect person to represent me and my company. He communicated with me in clear terms so that I understood everything that was taking place in a timely manner. He treated my situation with the type of candor you only find in a consummate professional and successfully negotiated a deal with the State of California that far exceeded my expectations. I found him to be kind, efficient, sensitive and nothing short of brilliant. I consider myself fortunate to have met him and highly recommend his services. I will not hesitate to use his firm in the future should a need arise. Google, We Care Spa
★★★★★
I am an international tax advisor and have worked with Pedram on more than a dozen difficult and challenging cases. Pedram's clients and fellow advisors highly respect him because he has an uncanny ability to quickly identify and work diligently to resolve his clients' issues. Pedram is pragmatic in his approach. He is transparent with his clients and dedicated to getting to a fair and reasonable outcome. I have attended an IRS Appeals conference with Pedram and would want no other attorney on my side. Pedram is extremely passionate in his work and representing his clients. He is also enjoyable to work with and develops very good relationships with his clients and fellow advisors. I highly recommend Pedram for any tax controversy work. Avvo, Curt
★★★★★
Top Drawer Tax Fraud Lawyer. Pedram got me out a CI jam I thought I would not resolve. He is also fair and reasonable with his billing. I interviewed 4 top Tax Fraud Lawyers in LA and went with Pedram...Glad I did! Google, Michael Jeppson
★★★★★
Pedram Ben-Cohen at Ben-Cohen Law Firm, PLC is one of the most incredible, creative, and caring attorneys I have ever dealt with. He gave us hope but also gave us the reality and worst case scenario. He fought for us tooth and nail. The attention and time Pedram put into the case was like no other. He charged us more than fair and was very reasonable in every aspect. He is not the kind of attorney that charges for every minute. I liked him very much not only as an attorney but as a person because he is very honest, is true to his integrity, and is dedicated to his clients. He loves what he does and has the passion to protect and defend his clients, which totally shows in his work and our outcome. We originally hired another attorney from a famous firm who basically did not give us much hope on our case . That is when we came to Pedram who won our case in a short amount of time and got us the outcome we were looking for. Because of Pedram and his creativeness, willingness, and dedication, he got us our favorable outcome. He is our go to attorney for sure, without a doubt. Avvo, Anonymous
★★★★★
A few years ago I had a major tax problem and I was looking for the right professional tax lawyer. I interviewed at least five experts and all of them were very professional. I am very picky. When I met Mr. Pedram Ben-Cohen, it took me no more than five minutes to decide that he was the one, and I was absolutely right with my intuition. He is very professional, knowledgeable, smart, and knows his job perfectly. In addition to all of his professional skills, as a person he is very friendly, pleasant, ready to help, and took care of me like I was his own family. I referred and recommended him to friends and family with tax problems and will continue to do so warmly to anyone. I know that he is able and will do his job the best way for his clients. He is my personal tax lawyer and expert and will remain so. Google, Shlomo Kattan
★★★★★
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