You already know that como can mean "like," "as," or "since." But when you pair it with the present subjunctive, it acts as a strong warning or a threat.
To say "If you do X..." with the implication that something bad will happen, use como followed by the present subjunctive. The negative consequence is usually stated in the present or future tense.
| If you try to evade the audit, you are going to go to prison. | Como intentes evadir la auditoría, vas a ir a prisión. |
| If you evade the payment, the penalty is going to be worse. | Como evadas el pago, la sanción va a ser peor. |
This structure is used just like a conditional si (if) clause, but it carries a much stricter, more threatening tone.
| If the inspector starts the audit today, we are not going to be ready. | Como el inspector empiece la auditoría hoy, no vamos a estar listos. |
You can also use this to warn someone about the consequences of failing to do something by adding no before the verb.
| If you do not have the receipt, you cannot justify the expense. | Como no tengas el comprobante, no puedes justificar el gasto. |
| If the inspector does not accept the return, we have to pay more. | Como el inspector no acepte la declaración, tenemos que pagar más. |
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