tax evasion

American  

noun

1. the nonpayment of taxes, as through the failure to report taxable income.

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tax evasion British  

noun

1. reduction or minimization of tax liability by illegal methods Compare tax avoidance

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Etymology

Origin of tax evasion

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Tax avoidance is different to tax evasion, which is a criminal offence.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

It also led to scrutiny from federal prosecutors, who brought charges in early 2025, alleging he engaged in a yearslong tax evasion scheme.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

At the time of his video, Ver was under criminal indictment for millions in tax evasion and living on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Galvan, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery and one count of tax evasion for failing to report more than half a million dollars in income.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

Colonel Korn was the lawyer, and if Colonel Korn assured him that fraud, extortion, currency manipulation, embezzlement, income tax evasion and black-market speculations were legal, Colonel Cathcart was in no position to disagree with him.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller