Locate South Dakota Tax Lawyers
In South Dakota "taxes" are monies taken from persons or corporations by the government, at a rate set by law.
The taxes that South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota
Taxes in South Dakota 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 South Dakota, 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 South Dakota, 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: In South Dakota, a tax is enforced 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. Usually, 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, commonly as part of their mortgage payment.
How Can A South Dakota Tax Lawyer Help?
If you reside in South Dakota, and engage in any economic activity whatsoever (working for a salary, buying or selling goods, owning property, etc.), you almost definitely have a tax liability.
In South Dakota, tax law is very difficult. Most tax attorneys actually don't practice any other area of law in South Dakota, 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 retain a South Dakota tax attorney to help.
Interesting Facts About South Dakota
South Dakota is the 40th U.S. state and has a population of over 800,000 people. Most of South Dakota is rural in character and has retained much of its agricultural foundation. The region is popular for its national parks and monuments. In particular, the iconic monument Mount Rushmore draws many visitors to South Dakota annually. Over time the state has incorporated other industries in its economy like financing and defense spending.
The judicial branch of South Dakota is composed of the state Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and Magistrate Courts. Most lawyers in South Dakota assist clients through the Circuit Courts, as the Magistrate Court does not hear jury trials. The Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over both criminal and civil claims, and serve as the general trial courts for the state.
South Dakota has a complex body of case law. An influential South Dakota ruling can be found in South Dakota v. Opperman (1976), which defined the "community caretaking" functions of police forces. Under the Opperman ruling, police authorities must engage in "community caretaking", which includes duties like ensuring the safe flow of traffic. The case also discussed search and seizure provisions.
Lawyers in South Dakota represent clients in order to help them defend their interests and help them obtain legal relief. South Dakota lawyers can assist you with legal questions, represent you in a court of law, and help you with legal documents and many other tasks. Attorneys in South Dakota are well-known for their expertise in many areas.
