Can You Really Go to Jail for Not Paying Your Taxes? The Answer May Surprise You

The deadline to pay your taxes is days away. If your tax bill isn't paid in full by April 15, you may receivea letter from the IRSsayingyour taxes are overdue. That can lead to interest, fees and in extreme cases, possible jail time.I've been an accountant for more than a decade and I can say that jail time is rarely the first step the Internal Revenue Service takes if youowe money. The tax agency will give you the opportunity to address the issue before it escalates to this extreme. But there are legal consequences for tax evasion or continuously failing to pay your taxes on time.Here's how to avoid legal trouble and what to do if you can't afford to pay your taxes.Read more:Is Your Tax Return Over $1,000? This Accountant Warns You Might Be Overpaying the IRSTax evasion versus failing to pay your taxesTax evasion is when you intentionally avoid paying taxes, often by underreporting income or falsifying tax records. For instance, if you earn $100,000 annually but knowingly only report...