Tax Lawyers in Rancho Palos Verdes

The government of Rancho Palos Verdes, 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 Rancho Palos Verdes, 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.

You are legally-obligated to pay your taxes in Rancho Palos Verdes. If you fail to pay your taxes, without a compelling reason, you are committing a crime, and may end up going to jail as a result.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Taxes can come from a wide number of sources in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, such as sales tax, administrative/licensing fees, and tolls.

Sales Tax: A sales tax in Rancho Palos Verdes is a surcharge added to the price of most goods that are sold by retailers to the general public. The government of further imposes a sales tax, which must be paid in addition to the local tax. Typically, local sales taxes are less than one percent, while state sales taxes are in the 5% range.

Licensing Fees: The city of Rancho Palos Verdes may require business owners to obtain a license from the local government before they begin operating within city limits. Typically, the main hurdle involved in obtaining one of these licenses is paying a fee to the city government. Although these payments are called "fees" as opposed to "taxes," they operate in the same way, and serve largely the same purpose, as taxes.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Most major cities charge a toll to enter them via main roads or bridges. These fees are meant to pay for the upkeep of basic public infrastructure in Rancho Palos Verdes, by imposing a tax on visitors to it. In theory, this means that individuals who visit the city are obligated to contribute to the upkeep of the infrastructure that they will be using while present there.

How Can a Rancho Palos Verdes, California Tax Attorney Help?

In Rancho Palos Verdes, California, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly complex, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Furthermore, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Therefore, it's very important that you seek the advice of a qualified Rancho Palos Verdes, California tax attorney if you have any type of issue involving local taxes.