Corporate Tax Lawyers in Rancho Santa Margarita

In Rancho Santa Margarita, 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.

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

Corporate Tax Rate in Rancho Santa Margarita, California

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

Under the federal tax system, and the tax laws of some states, corporate income is taxed at a different rate from the income of individuals. For example, the top federal income tax rate for corporations is 35%, compared with 33% for individuals. The highest tax rate applies to corporations making more than .3 million per year. The lowest corporate tax rate is 15%, applying to those corporations that make less than ,000 per year.

Likewise, chances are good that the corporate tax rate in California are different from individual income taxes. However, many states feel that their economies would be best served by attracting as many businesses as possible. For that reasons, in a large number of states, the corporate income tax rate is significantly lower than the individual rate.

Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Rancho Santa Margarita, California are required to comply with state and federal income tax laws. Failure to pay income tax can be punished by massive fines, which can sometimes prove financially ruinous.

How Can a Rancho Santa Margarita, 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.

Of course, smaller companies in Rancho Santa Margarita can't afford to have full-time legal and accounting departments on their payroll. Accordingly, if your business is organized as a corporation, and has an issue with its taxes, it's essential that you contact a Rancho Santa Margarita, California tax attorney as soon as possible.