Corporate Tax Lawyers in Helena

In Helena, Alabama, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. Thus, from a legal standpoint, the owner of a corporation and the corporation itself are not the same "person."

This doctrine is identified as "corporate personhood." While the concept is somewhat abstract, the law of Alabama treats corporations as individual persons, for most purposes. This means that, legally, corporations have many of the same rights, privileges, and obligations as living, breathing human beings.

One of these obligations is the duty to pay income tax in much the same way as an individual person.

Corporate Tax Rate in Helena, Alabama

Virtually every for-profit corporation in the U.S. is required to pay taxes on its income each year. Most states also have their own corporate income tax. All corporations in Helena, Alabama are required to pay it.

At the federal level, and in some states, corporations are taxed at different rates from individuals. Federally, the top corporate tax rate is 35% - a rate applying to corporations earning more than .3 million per year. Corporations earning less than ,000 a year pay a 15% corporate tax rate, and there are a few tax brackets in between. For comparison, the federal income tax for individuals maxes out at 33%.

In Alabama the corporate tax rate probably differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have determined that the local economy benefits most when it is business-friendly. In those states, the corporate tax rate is normally lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.

Corporations in Helena, Alabama are required to pay both the state and federal corporate tax. Failing to pay either (or both) of these taxes can result in severe legal penalties, including fines that may prove ruinous, especially for smaller businesses.

How Can a Helena, Alabama Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Many major corporations employ tax lawyers full time, to ensure that they are in compliance with tax laws, and find legal means to reduce their tax liability.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Helena, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. Thus, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's important that you speak with a lawyer in Helena, Alabama who practices tax law.