Oklahoma Tax Lawyers

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

The taxes that Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma is obligated to pay their taxes. If you don't pay the taxes assessed against you, you are committing a serious criminal offense, punishable by jail time and large fines.

Sources of Tax Revenue in Oklahoma

Taxes in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma, 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: Income tax is, as the name implies, a tax on income. Everyone in the U.S., including in Oklahoma, has to pay the federal income tax. Most states also have their own income tax. You are also legally required to pay the income tax of your state, though the state income tax rates are considerably lower than the federal rate. The federal tax rate ranges from 10% to 33% of taxable income. Obviously, those with a higher income are taxed at a higher rate, for the most part.

Property Tax: The property tax in Oklahoma is applied to every owner of real property (land and buildings). The state collects from every property owner a percentage of the property's value, on an annual basis. The state first calculates the value of every piece of property within its territory. It then notifies the owner of this assessment, and sometimes gives them an opportunity to contest it (evidently, people want their assessed property value to be as low as possible, so it will be subject to the lowest tax possible). Usually, the property tax is paid as a monthly payment, sometimes included in one's mortgage.

How Can A Oklahoma Tax Lawyer Help?

If you live in Oklahoma, and engage in any economic activity whatsoever (working for a salary, buying or selling goods, owning property, etc.), you almost certainly have a tax liability.

Tax Law in Oklahoma can get extremely convoluted. It is so complex that most tax attorneys in Oklahoma practice tax law exclusively, eschewing all other practice areas. So, this specialization means that most tax lawyers are experts in their fields. It should go without saying, then, that an Oklahoma tax lawyer can be invaluable if you have an issue with your taxes.

Interesting Facts About Oklahoma

Oklahoma is called the "Sooner state" and is one of the main producers of oil and natural gas in the U.S. Ohio's economy is one of the fastest growing in the nation and is supported by other major industries like energy and telecommunications. Oklahoma achieved statehood relatively late, being the 46th state to join to Union.

Oklahoma's legal court system is formed by the District Courts, appeals courts, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The state has a total of 77 District Courts. Oklahoma's appeal system is different from other states as there are two branches for appeals: the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals. Oklahoma also maintains an Administrative Office of the Courts, which provides the courts with administrative services. There are a total of 39 Native American tribal governments in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's legal profession benefits from the presence of major law schools in the state. Some of these include the law schools at Oklahoma City University, The University of Oklahoma, and the University of Tulsa. Oklahoma law schools train future lawyers in the particulars of Oklahoma law. Oklahoma is famous for court cases involving civil rights like the McLaurin case (1950), which laid the foundation for cases like Brown v. Board of Education.

Lawyers in Oklahoma are equipped to handle a wide range of legal claims and inquiries. Oklahoma lawyers have experience in dealing with the types of disputes that are unique to the state. Also, an Oklahoma attorney can provide advice on different legal matters.