Most citizens are entirely law-abiding, according to the tax officials. We are aware that we are required to pay some taxes, and we make certain that they are paid in full, with full disclosure, before the due date. However, there always seems to be a small group of people who go out of their way to break the law and devise ingenious techniques to avoid paying their taxes. Some people get away with lying, while others don’t. Those in the latter category are usually subjected to unforgiving punishment from the authorities.
This infographic depicts a few individuals whose attempts at tax evasion were discovered and who were subjected to government retaliation. Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time, evaded tax duties on racketeering activities, and after being indicted for tax evasion many years later, he would serve the majority of an 11-year prison sentence in the notorious environs of Alcatraz.
Tax fraud is viewed as a badge of honour by some who, rather than feeling guilty, consider it as a badge of glory. The ‘Queen of Mean,’ who used personal expenses like lingerie as business investments, boasted to reporters that “only the little people pay taxes,” while repeat offender Rashia Wilson used social media to defy law enforcement to arrest her after filing bogus tax returns. She was sentenced to 21 years in prison when they did so.
Even if people convicted of tax fraud serve their sentences and take their punishment, the damage to their reputation will be permanent. Pete Rose is one of baseball’s all-time greats, but his name will forever be associated with the filing of bogus tax returns that resulted in a lifetime suspension from the sport. His illustrious career deserves better, but neither he nor anybody else in the country has a divine right to avoid paying taxes.