What constitutes tax evasion?

Tax evasion is the illegal practice of intentionally avoiding paying taxes owed to the government. The act of underreporting income to avoid tax payments directly fits this definition, as it involves deliberately misrepresenting financial information to reduce one's tax liability. This is a criminal offense and can lead to severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

In contrast, legally reducing tax obligations or claiming all available deductions are part of lawful tax planning strategies. These actions comply with tax laws and are intended to minimize tax liability in a legal framework. Refusing to file a tax return also constitutes a form of tax evasion since it prevents the government from assessing and collecting the appropriate amount of taxes owed, but it is more generally categorized under noncompliance. However, underreporting income is a more explicit example of intentional deceit regarding tax responsibilities, which makes it the primary definition of tax evasion in this context.