Tax Lawyers in Los Altos

The government of Los Altos, California collects taxes from its residents in order to pay for general public services, like police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and public transit.

Taxes in Los Altos, California are derived from a wide number of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always decided by law. A tax can come either in the form of a flat fee, or as a percentage of one's income, the value of a piece of property, or a sale.

Everyone in Los Altos is obligated by law to pay the taxes they owe. If you fail to do this, you could end up facing jail time.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Los Altos, California

A wide number of activities are subject to taxation in Los Altos, California, creating a considerable range of revenue sources. For example, cities typically impose a sales tax, charge fees for certain licenses, and collect tolls on roads and bridges.

Sales Tax: In Los Altos, the sales tax is a tax that's added to the price of goods at the point of sale. Typically, you have to pay a city sales tax on top of whatever sales tax is levied by . Normally, the local sales tax is much smaller than the state tax, which is typically in the area of 5-8%, with the city tax most often being less than one percent.

Licensing Fees: In Los Altos, some business owners might be obligated to get a business license from the local authorities before the business begins operations. It is frequently the case that the most important part of getting a business license is paying the required fees.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Many major cities have tollbooths on all the main roads or highways that go into them. This effectively amounts to a tax paid to enter Los Altos, ensuring that visitors to the city present at least a small contribution to paying for the city services that they will enjoy while there.

How Can a Los Altos, California Tax Attorney Help?

In Los Altos, California, many different laws and regulations govern taxes, making the theoretically simple task of determining one's tax liability pretty perplexing. On top of that, there are many different breaks and exemptions that apply to specific types of groups and individuals, further complicating things.

Thus, it's imperative that you obtain the counsel of a qualified tax lawyer in Los Altos, California if you think that you might need help with your local taxes.