Can non-payment of taxes really land you in jail? Or the judge just wants to set a precedent?
It all depends on whether the non-payment was an honest mistake or there was an intention to cheat on the taxes. It is a mistake when bank interest was omitted, in which case, you will receive a CP2000 letter from the IRS. But using two sets of accounting books may get the CID to investigate you. A typographical error of entering your Social Security Number is a mistake. But using someone else’s Social Security Number is cheating and you should expect a visit from the CID.