Locate Pennsylvania Tax Lawyers

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

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

Sources of Tax Revenue in Pennsylvania

Taxes in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 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. 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: Income tax is, as the name implies, a tax on income. Everybody in the U.S., including in Pennsylvania, has to pay the federal income tax. Most states also have their own income tax. You are further 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 Pennsylvania 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 chance 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 Pennsylvania Tax Lawyer Help?

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

In Pennsylvania, tax law can get pretty difficult. There are lawyers in Pennsylvania who only practice tax law, and nothing else. This should impress upon you the fact that taxes are governed by a large and complex body of laws. For that reason, if you have an issue with your state or federal taxes in Pennsylvania, such as an audit, you should not hesitate to speak with a reliable tax attorney.

Interesting Facts About Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is one of America's oldest states, being only the second state to join the Union. Formally known as The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the area was settled as early as the 1630's. With 253 members in its legislature, Pennsylvania has the second largest legislature in the nation. Pennsylvania is named after its founder, William Penn.

Education has always been a focal point of Pennsylvania life. The state is home to a large number of nationally recognized universities. Some of these have law schools associated with them, such as the law schools at Penn State University, Temple University, and the University of Pittsburgh. A significant number of Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases have also involved education, including Abington v. Shempp (1963) and Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971).

Pennsylvania's court system is called the "Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". At the basic level are the Courts of Common Pleas, which are organized into 60 different judicial districts. Appeals are heard either at the Superior Court or at the Commonwealth Court. The Pennsylvania state Supreme Court also hears appeals and other matters of a more complex nature. There are also minor municipal courts with limited jurisdiction beneath the Courts of Common Pleas.

Pennsylvania lawyers are skilled at handling legal claims of all types. Lawyers in Pennsylvania participate in continuing legal education and various programs in order to refine their skills. An experienced Pennsylvania attorney can assist you with any legal disputes or inquiries you might have.