Corporate Tax Lawyers in Portola Valley

In Portola Valley, California, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. Therefore, 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. Therefore, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.

As a prime example, corporations have to pay income taxes, just as a person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Portola Valley, California

All corporations in America have to pay a federal income tax. Several states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations operating in Portola Valley, California have to pay.

In most states, and at the federal level, corporations are taxed at a different rate than individuals. At the federal level, the corporate income tax maxes out at 35% for corporations that earn more than .3 million per year. Corporations that earn less than ,000 per year are taxed at 15%. There are many tax brackets in between. However, the individual federal income tax rate tops at 33%.

The corporate tax rate in California may also differ from the individual tax rate. However, in many states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual income tax rate. This is because many states believe that the best way to attract business (and thus improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

In any case, Portola Valley, 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 normally cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.

How Can a Portola Valley, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Most very large corporations have tax attorneys and accountants on staff, as full-time employees, who help them stay in compliance with all applicable state and federal income tax laws.

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