Tax Lawyers in Metairie

To pay for general services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of Metairie, Louisiana collects taxes.

Taxes in Metairie, Louisiana 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.

In case you were wondering, paying your taxes in Metairie is mandatory. The law states it. So, if you don't pay your taxes, with extremely few exceptions, you are guilty of a crime, and will be punished accordingly.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Metairie, Louisiana

Various different things can be taxed in Metairie, Louisiana. This is meant to ensure that there is a wide range of sources of tax revenue, and that the government does not have to rely too heavily on any one revenue stream that could dry up. For instance, local governments collect revenue from sales taxes, licensing fees, as bridge tolls, among several other things.

Sales Tax: In Metairie, there may be a sales tax on top of the sales tax imposed by the government of . City sales taxes are normally pretty small, normally in the range of one percent or less, as opposed to the 5-7% sales taxes imposed by most states.

Licensing Fees: The government of Metairie issues licenses for engaging in a wide number of different activities. Most commonly, they issue business licenses, which business owners must obtain before operating any type of business in city limit. The most important of this process is usually paying a fee. While these taxes are called "fees," instead of "taxes," they are functionally identical, and serve the same purpose (namely, raising revenue).

Bridge/Road Tolls: Many larger cities in the U.S. charge tolls to enter the city via main highways or bridges. This amounts to a tax paid for the privilege of entering Metairie if it has such toll roads. Besides being a basic source of revenue, these tolls require visitors to the city, who will have many city services available to them while they visit, to pay at least some contribution to these services.

How Can a Metairie, Louisiana Tax Attorney Help?

In Metairie, Louisiana, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly complicated, 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.

Thus, it's extremely important that you obtain the advice of a reliable Metairie, Louisiana tax attorney if you have any tax law questions.