Tennessee Tax Lawyers

Locate Tennessee Tax Lawyers

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

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

Sources of Tax Revenue in Tennessee

Taxes in Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, a tax is imposed 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 Tennessee Tax Lawyer Help?

If you live in Tennessee, 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 issues in Tennessee are never simple. In fact, most tax attorneys ONLY practice tax law in Tennessee, because tax law is so complicated that an attorney pretty much has to specialize in it. This has the advantage of creating a situation where every competent tax attorney is practically an expert in tax law, because they have to be. If you have a problem with your taxes, whether state or federal, it is always a good idea to get some advice from a good Tennessee tax lawyer.

Interesting Facts About Tennessee

Tennessee is part of the Southeastern region of the United States. It is one of the nation's major producers in areas like agriculture, electrical equipment, and transport equipment. Tennessee is also popular for its history of musical acts originating from the state, with Nashville being considered by many to be the center of recorded country music. Much of Tennessee's law is devoted towards regulation of these important industries.

The Tennessee Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort. Unlike other state supreme courts, the Tennessee Supreme Court meets in several locations (Knoxville, Jackson, and Nashville). In addition, the Tennessee Supreme Court has met in many other cities in connection with legal education projects for high schools. Tennessee's Supreme Court is the only one in the nation that appoints the state's Attorney General; in all other states, the appointment is made by election or by the state governor.

Many Tennessee laws and court cases have influenced national legal trends. For example, Baker v. Carr (1962) is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case originating in Tennessee. The Baker decision established the doctrine of "one man, one vote". This doctrine helped to balance voting and election standards, especially for communities that may be underrepresented in elections.

Lawyers in Tennessee can help interpret the state's laws and regulations. Tennessee lawyers provide assistance with various legal issues and concerns. An attorney in Tennessee can also provide representation in court during trial.