Georgia Tax Lawyers

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In Georgia "taxes" are monies taken from individuals or corporations by the government, at a rate set by law.

The taxes that Georgia collects pay for basic public services like roads, firefighters, police, courts, schools, and many other benefits that come with living in a modern society.

Everyone who legally resides in Georgia is obligated to pay their taxes. If you don't pay the taxes assessed against you, you are committing a severe criminal offense, punishable by jail time and large fines.

Sources of Tax Revenue in Georgia

Taxes in Georgia can be derived from a large number of different sources, and in different amounts. The most frequent sources of tax revenue nationwide are Sales Tax, Income Tax, and Property Tax.

Sales Tax: Most states collect a tax on the sales of goods. In Georgia, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most (but normally not all) items. Technically, the tax is assessed against the sellers of goods. However, the vast majority of vendors pass this tax onto their customers, adding it to the marked price of a product at the point of sale.

Income Tax: Everyone in the U.S., including residents of Georgia, is obligated to pay a federal income tax, assuming they bring in any income. Most states also have a personal income tax, though some states do not. The majority of Americans derive almost all of their income from employment wages. Usually, their federal and (if applicable) state income taxes are deducted from their paychecks. This is beneficial, in that your taxes are paid as you go, and you usually don't have a large tax bill at the end of the year. Depending on one's income, the federal income tax rate can be as low as 10%, or as high as 33%.

Property Tax: Along with mortgage payments, property taxes in Georgia are one of the biggest expenses associated with home ownership. In order to collect property taxes, the state or local government appraises the value of every privately-owned piece of real estate in its jurisdiction. It then collects a particular percentage of that value in taxes. In order to avoid having to pay a large tax bill at the end of each year, most people elect to pay their property taxes in monthly installments.

How Can A Georgia Tax Lawyer Help?

If you participate in the economy of Georgia, whether it's by running a business, earning a wage, or owning property, you're likely to have some tax obligations.

Tax Law in Georgia can get fairly convoluted. In fact, many lawyers in Georgia who practice tax law specialize in that field, and don't practice any other area of law. This should give you a sense of how complicated tax issues can become. Thus, if you have any legal issue that involves your taxes in Georgia, you should consult with an accomplished tax lawyer ASAP.

Interesting Facts About Georgia

Georgia is the last of the 13 original colonies and the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. A prominent southern state, Georgia is known for its culture of "southern hospitality". Georgia has nearly 160 counties, the second most for any state in the U.S. It is has of the fastest-growing economies and the 9th largest population in America.

Georgia is nicknamed "The Peach State". It is sometimes referred to as "The Empire State of the South", in reference to its role as an important hub for commerce and trade. Georgia's zoning laws are very unique among states, as any incorporated town or community is granted the legal status of a city. Cities and counties are granted "home rule" power, which means that they can pass legislation as any traditional municipality would.

Georgia's highest court of law is the Supreme Court of Georgia. Below the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals levels, the court system of Georgia is quite complex. There are Superior Courts, State Courts, Magistrate Courts, Municipal Courts, and many others. Each of these hears different types of legal claims. Georgia has contributed much case law in the area of capital punishment and death penalty laws, some examples being Furman v. Georgia (1972) and Coker v. Georgia (1977).

Lawyers in Georgia can provide guidance in dealing with the state's complicated web of courts. Georgia laws can also be complicated, but a Georgia lawyer can provide advice and representation in court when necessary. Georgia attorneys are often members of various civic organizations and bar associations.