Corporate Tax Lawyers in Cape Elizabeth

In Cape Elizabeth, Maine, a "corporation" is an entity that is, under the law, distinct from any of its owners. Essentially, this means that the people who own a corporation, and the corporation itself, are distinct "persons."

This concept is referred to as "corporate personhood" in Maine, and it basically means that, for many purposes under the law, corporations are treated the same as individual people, being subject to many of the same rights and responsibilities.

One of these commitments is the duty to pay income tax in much the same way as an individual person.

Corporate Tax Rate in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Practically every for-profit corporation in the U.S. is required to pay taxes on its income each year. Most states also have their own corporate income tax. All corporations in Cape Elizabeth, Maine are required to pay it.

At the federal level, and in certain states, corporations are taxed at different rates from individuals. Federally, the top corporate tax rate is 35% - a rate applying to corporations earning more than .3 million per year. Corporations earning less than ,000 a year pay a 15% corporate tax rate, and there are a few tax brackets in between. For comparison, the federal income tax for persons maxes out at 33%.

Likewise, chances are good that the corporate tax rate in Maine 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 substantially lower than the individual rate.

Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Cape Elizabeth, Maine are obligated to comply with state and federal income tax laws. Failure to pay income tax can be punished by massive fines, which can occasionally prove financially ruinous.

How Can a Cape Elizabeth, Maine Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

The majority of big corporations have accountants, tax lawyers, and other legal/financial specialists on staff to guarantee that they adhere with state and national corporate tax laws.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Cape Elizabeth, 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 critical that you speak with a lawyer in Cape Elizabeth, Maine who practices tax law.