Wesley Snipes has been taken into custody by federal authorities — and is “in transit” to a federal prison, where he will begin to serve his 3-year sentence for tax crimes … TMZ has confirmed with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The hammer is finally dropping on Wesley Snipes — a judge has ordered the actor to immediately surrender to federal authorities so he can begin serving a 3-year prison stint for tax crimes.

According to TMZ, Snipes has been appealing like crazy ever since he was found guilty on tax evasion charges in 2008 — but now, a U.S. District Court judge is putting his foot down … demanding that Snipes turn himself in ASAP.

Story developing …