Montana Tax Lawyers

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

The taxes that Montana collects pay for necessary 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 Montana is obliged to pay their taxes. If you don't pay the taxes assessed against you, you are committing a significant criminal offense, punishable by jail time and large fines.

Sources of Tax Revenue in Montana

Taxes in Montana can be derived from a large number of different sources, and in different amounts. The most typical 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 Montana, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most (but typically not all) items. Technically, the tax is assessed against the sellers of goods. But, 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: In Montana, the "income tax" is exactly what the name implies: a tax on the income of individuals and corporations. Everybody in the United States has to pay the federal income tax. Thus, even if the state you live in doesn't have a personal income tax, you are responsible for the federal tax. However, the majority of states have their own income tax, though it's usually much lower than the federal tax. Depending on how much money you make per year, your income will be taxed at a rate ranging from 10% to 33%.

Property Tax: Along with mortgage payments, property taxes in Montana are one of the largest expenses associated with home ownership. In order to gather 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 specific percentage of that value in taxes. In order to avoid having to pay a massive tax bill at the end of each year, most people elect to pay their property taxes in monthly installments.

How Can A Montana Tax Lawyer Help?

If you engage in any economic or commercial activity in Montana, such as working, selling products, owning property, or something else, it's a near certainty that you are going to have some tax liability.

In Montana, tax law is very confusing. Most tax attorneys actually don't practice any other area of law in Montana, which should give you some idea of how involved tax cases can become. If you have a tax question, or are facing an audit on your state or federal taxes, you should not delay to contact a Montana tax attorney to help.

Interesting Facts About Montana

Montana is a western U.S. state famous for its mountain ranges. In fact, the state contains over 70 of the named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Montana has several unofficial nicknames such as "Land of the Shining Mountains". It is often chosen as the setting for films involving America's "great outdoors". Millions of tourists visit Montana yearly for its numerous National parks and monuments.

Montana laws are overseen by the Montana State Legislature. The state of Montana has historically been a major influence in the area of women's rights laws. For example, Montana was the first state to ever elect a woman to Congress in the year 1916. It was also one of the first of the 50 states to provide for women's voting rights. Montana law is also generated through case law.

Due to the state's rich geography, many Montana legal cases revolve around the issues of natural resources and environmental concerns. One such case is Montana v. United States (1981). This case involved a dispute over access to fishing on Crow Nation tribal lands by non-tribal members. The case helped to clarify the limits on interactions between tribal governments and the U.S. federal government.

Lawyers in Montana are available to assist clients with various legal issues. Legal questions or disputes can be directed to an experienced Montana lawyer, who will provide counsel and representation on the matter. Working with a Montana attorney at the beginning of a project can help prevent legal disputes in the future.