Tax evasion is a criminal offense and is widely recognized as a predicate offense to money laundering under FATF standards and national AML laws.
It involves the deliberate non-payment or under-reporting of taxes, often through false declarations, concealment of income, or failure to file required tax returns. The key distinction is intentional deception of tax authorities.
In contrast, tax avoidance refers to lawful strategies used to minimize tax liability within the boundaries of the law. Deductions and tax planning activities are legal and do not constitute tax evasion.
Because tax evasion generates illicit proceeds, it is directly relevant to AML/CFT frameworks, and financial institutions must be alert to indicators of tax-related financial crime.
