Locate Virginia Tax Lawyers

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

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

Sources of Tax Revenue in Virginia

Taxes in Virginia 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia, a tax is placed 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 Virginia Tax Lawyer Help?

If you engage in any economic or commercial activity in Virginia, such as working, selling products, owning property, or something else, it's a near certainty that you are going to have some tax liability.

Tax law issues in Virginia are never simple. In fact, most tax attorneys ONLY practice tax law in Virginia, because tax law is so difficult that an attorney pretty much has to specialize in it. This has the benefit 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 Virginia tax lawyer.

Interesting Facts About Virginia

Virginia became a U.S. state in 1788 and was the 10th state to join the Union. The state of Virginia is formally known as "The Commonwealth of Virginia", and its official nickname is the "Old Dominion". Occasionally, people refer to Virginia as "the Mother of Presidents", as 8 U.S. presidents were born in the state.

As one of the original U.S. colonies, Virginia's legal system is also one of the oldest in the country. For example, Virginia's legislature, the Virginia General Assembly, is the oldest legislature operating in the Western hemisphere. The oldest police force in the U.S., the Virginia Capitol Police, is also located in Virginia. Virginia has a well-developed system of case laws, as well as a body of statutes known as the Code of Virginia.

Legal claims in Virginia are processed in the state judicial system, consisting of the state Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and the General District and Circuit Courts. Many landmark cases have arisen out of Virginia, such as Loving v. Virginia (1967), an important anti-segregation case. Another frequently cited Virginia case is Atkins v. Virginia (2002), which involved the 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Lawyers in Virginia represent clients in all types of legal claims. Although most of these are processed at the trial court level, Virginia lawyers also file appeals through the state's appeal system. A Virginia attorney can assist you by answering legal questions and providing much-needed representation in court.