TCA 39-14-120
Issuing false financial statement
MISDEMEANOR BClass B Misdemeanor
Sentence enhancement may apply
What does this charge mean?
This statute prohibits knowingly creating or presenting a false financial statement with intent to deceive—such as writing a statement about your income or assets that you know is inaccurate in important ways, or falsely claiming that an inaccurate statement is correct. A conviction is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $500.
Penalty Details
ClassificationClass B Misdemeanor
Maximum Jail6 months
Maximum Fine$500
Penalty SummaryClass B misdemeanor; 6 months; fine up to $500
(a) A person commits the crime of issuing a false financial statement who, with intent to defraud: (1) Knowingly makes or utters a written instrument which purports to describe the financial condition or ability of the person or some other person to pay and which is inaccurate in some material respect; or (2) Represents in writing that a written instrument purporting to describe a person’s financial condition or ability to pay is accurate with respect to that person’s current financial condition or ability to pay, knowing or having reason to believe the instrument to be materially inaccurate in that respect. (b) Issuing a false financial statement is a Class B misdemeanor.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
MISDEMEANOR B
TCA Section39-14-120
Max Jail6 months
Max Fine$500