What’s the difference between tax avoidance (legal) and tax evasion (illegal)? Usually 5-10 years in prison!

For years, we’ve seen consultants advise doctors not to worry about claiming tax deductions for inflated amounts, amounts not spent, and amounts not supported by proof of payment (receipts). They claim the only thing you’ll get jail time for is unreported income. Unfortunately, there’s a major problem with that advice—it’s just not true!

A recent criminal tax case proved just that when a N.C. land appraiser pleaded guilty to running a conservation easement tax-fraud scheme that bilked the U.S. government (and taxpayers) out of millions of dollars. Shelby resident Walter Roberts, II inflated charitable contribution deductions using bogus and way-too-high appraisals of conservation easements, according to the U.S. Justice