Corporate Tax Lawyers in Goleta

In Goleta, California, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. So, from a legal standpoint, the owner of a corporation and the corporation itself are not the same "person."

This rule is called "corporate personhood." Basically, under the law of California, corporations are, in many ways, the same as individual human beings. So, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.

One of a corporation's primary legal obligations is its duty to pay income taxes, as an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Goleta, California

Every corporation in the U.S. which has taxable income must pay its share of the federal corporate income tax. The majority of states also have a corporate income tax, which Goleta, California corporations are required to pay.

Under federal laws that govern corporate income taxes, corporations pay a different income tax rate from individual people. Corporations pay a maximum federal income tax rate of 35%, and a minimum rate of 15%, depending on their income. The high tax rate applies to corporations that make .3 million per year, and the low rate applies to any company bringing in less than ,000.

There's also a good chance that the tax rate applicable to corporations in California differ from the individual tax rates. Some states feel that the best economic policy is to attract as many businesses as they can. So, in some states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual tax rate.

In any case, Goleta, California corporations have to pay both the state and federal income tax. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to severe penalties, such as very large fines. These fines can be big enough to put some smaller companies out of business. Suffice to say, it's usually cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.

How Can a Goleta, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Many major corporations employ tax lawyers full time, to ensure that they are in compliance with tax laws, and find legal means to reduce their tax liability.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Goleta, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. So, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's important that you speak with a lawyer in Goleta, California who practices tax law.