Criminal tax evasion is the purposeful non-payment of taxes whether on a personal or business level. It is an attempt to avoid paying taxes. There are many people who willingly and knowingly evade taxes for years and are rightfully charged with criminal tax evasion. There are, however, also people who simply forget to file taxes or make errors filling out their tax forms. If the latter is the case, they must convince the IRS that it was in error and make agreements to pay back the taxes that may be owed. This is where a good attorney comes in. Lawyers who are experienced in tax law know what to expect and what your rights are. They also know how to best deal with the IRS and prove your case. Criminal tax evasion carries some serious prison time if found guilty. It is not a charge to be taken lightly. The prosecution, if a case goes to trial, must prove that the defendant willingly withheld information with the intent of evading paying due taxes. Criminal tax evasion is a very serious charge and it is a federal crime. Having a good tax lawyer only makes good sense if faced with squaring off with the IRS.