Locate Alaska Tax Lawyers
In Alaska "taxes" are monies taken from individuals or corporations by the government, at a rate set by law.
The taxes that Alaska collects pay for necessary 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 Alaska is obliged 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 Alaska
Taxes in Alaska can be derived from a large number of different sources, and in different amounts. The most typical 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 Alaska, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most (but typically 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: Everyone in the U.S., including residents of Alaska, is obliged to pay a federal income tax, assuming they bring in any income. Most states also have a personal income tax, though some states do not. The majority of Americans derive almost all of their income from employment wages. Normally, their federal and (if applicable) state income taxes are deducted from their paychecks. This is beneficial, in that your taxes are paid as you go, and you usually don't have a large tax bill at the end of the year. Depending on one's income, the federal income tax rate can be as low as 10%, or as high as 33%.
Property Tax: In Alaska, a property tax only applies to people who own real estate (land or houses). Typically, the state appraised (estimates the value of) every piece of real estate under its jurisdiction. It then imposes on owners an annual tax calculated as a percentage of the property's appraised value. Property tax can be paid in various ways, but many people have arrangements authorizing them to pay their property taxes in manageable monthly installments, right alongside their mortgage payments. Sometimes, the mortgage and tax can be bundled into a single payment.
How Can A Alaska Tax Lawyer Help?
If you participate in the economy of Alaska, whether it's by running a business, earning a wage, or owning property, you're likely to have some tax obligations.
Tax law issues in Alaska are never simple. In fact, most tax attorneys ONLY practice tax law in Alaska, because tax law is so intricate 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 Alaska tax lawyer.
Interesting Facts About Alaska
Alaska is the 49th state to join the Union, having joined the union on January 3, 1959. Alaska's state nickname is "the Last Frontier". The region was obtained by the U.S. from Russia in the year 1867, in what is known as the "Alaska Purchase".
Today, Alaska retains much of its original character of "the great outdoors". Many of the state's laws and court cases deal with legal issues that aren't found anywhere else in the United States. For example, in Frank v. Alaska (1979), the Alaska Supreme Court protected the interests of groups that were hunting for religious reasons. Another case, Alaska v. Arctic Maid (1961), dealt with the commercial transport of salmon. Thus, a large portion of Alaskan laws involve the protection of the abundant natural resources in the area.
Unlike most other states, the Alaska Supreme Court does not meet in only one location. Most state Supreme Court cases are heard every month in Anchorage. However, on occasion the Supreme Court meets in other places like Juneau, Fairbanks, and other Alaskan communities. This unique feature of the Alaska Supreme Court allows legal issues to be tried in various places. This can be very helpful, since Alaska has the largest geographic area of all the 50 states.
Lawyers in Alaska provide assistance in all kinds of legal fields. Most Alaska lawyers file claims in the state's trial courts, advancing through the appeal system as needed. Attorneys are available in Alaska to help the community with their legal needs.
