Acts of concealment, understatement, or dishonest disclosure of income with the intent to reduce one’s taxable income constitute tax evasion. Intentionally not paying taxes when due or paying a lesser amount than what is owed both count as forms of tax evasion. Tax evasion is the deliberate avoidance of financial obligations by a person or organization. Income, deductions, and exemptions may be concealed or inflated without proper paperwork. Furthermore, there are severe consequences for engaging in tax evasion in India.

Incomplete Or Late Filing Of An Income Tax Return

If a taxpayer fails to file an income tax return in accordance with the terms of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the assessing officer may impose a fine of up to Rs 5,000.

Offshore Bank Accounts

Some people might keep the funds in a bank account in a foreign country. Offshore accounts are financial assets held in a location outside of the country that are shielded from the country’s tax authorities. By keeping their financial assets in a foreign bank account, the taxpayer and the money’s rightful owner can sidestep Indian taxes on both their income and their wealth.

Devising Schemes To Hide Money From The IRS

There are several IRS penalties for tax evasion. According to Section 271(C), the taxpayer faces a fine of between 100 and 300 percent of the tax they tried to avoid pay if they were unsuccessful in their attempt to hide their true income or earnings.

Avoiding An Audit Of Financial Records

A taxpayer is required to have an audit performed on their account or provide an audit report per Section 44AB. The penalty for failing to do so is the greater of 0.5% of gross sales or turnover, or Rs 1,50,000. The penalty for failing to submit an accountant’s report as required by Section 92E is at least Rs 1,00,000.

Forged Documents

Taxpayers who want to hide their money submit false paperwork. A common tactic is for a taxpayer to submit counterfeit or bogus invoices for the acquisition of primary supplies. The taxpayer can reduce their taxable income by increasing their costs in this manner. It is widespread practice for people to submit forgeries in order to receive a tax credit under Section 80U for charitable contributions.