South Carolina Tax Lawyers

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

The taxes that South Carolina collects pay for essential 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 South Carolina is required 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 South Carolina

Taxes in South Carolina can be derived from a large number of different sources, and in different amounts. The most common 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 South Carolina, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most (but usually 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 South Carolina, has to pay the federal income tax. Most states also have their own income tax. You are also legally obligated 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: In South Carolina, a tax is levied on every piece of privately-owned land, including residential lots. The state simply appraises every piece of property in its territory, then taxes the owner a percentage of the property's value. Typically, the assessed (taxable) value of the property is considerably less than its market value. To avoid paying a large property tax bill at the end of each year, most homeowners pay it in monthly installments, often as part of their mortgage payment.

How Can A South Carolina Tax Lawyer Help?

If you live in South Carolina, 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 South Carolina can get fairly complicated. In fact, many lawyers in South Carolina who practice tax law specialize in that field, and don't practice any other area of law. This should give you a sense of how complicated tax issues can become. Therefore, if you have any legal issue that involves your taxes in South Carolina, you should consult with an experienced tax lawyer ASAP.

Interesting Facts About South Carolina

South Carolina is located in the "deep south" of the U.S. and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. One of the 13 original colonies, it was the first to separate from the Union and served as the founding state for the Confederate States. Today South Carolina is an important hub of social and economic activity. "Carolina" comes from the Latin word "Carolus", meaning Charles, a reference to a British king.

The capital of South Carolina is Columbia. The capitol building is called "The State House" and is where the legislature creates state laws. The University of South Carolina School of Law is also located in Columbia. South Carolina is noted for its extensive legal history, particularly in the area of alcohol laws. For example, South Carolina is the first U.S. state requiring mandatory videotaping by a police officer administering a breathalyzer test or making a DUI arrest.

South Carolina's judicial branch consists of the Circuit Court level, the intermediate level Court of Appeals, and the state Supreme Court. There are also minor courts below the Circuit Court level. Most trials are processed at the Circuit Court level. South Carolina's Circuit Court system is somewhat unique in that they have limited powers to hear some appeals.

Many lawyers in South Carolina are members of local bar associations in addition to the South Carolina Bar. The South Carolina Bar has over 13,500 members. South Carolina lawyers provide assistance in all types of legal claims and disputes.