Corporate Tax Lawyers in Flagstaff
In Flagstaff, Arizona, a "corporation" is specified as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. So, from a legal standpoint, the owner of a corporation and the corporation itself are not the same "person."
This doctrine is known as "corporate personhood." While the concept is somewhat abstract, the law of Arizona treats corporations as individual persons, for most purposes. This means that, legally, corporations have most of the same rights, privileges, and commitments as living, breathing human beings.
An discernible example of this concept is a corporation's obligation to pay income taxes similar to how an actual person would.
Corporate Tax Rate in Flagstaff, Arizona
Every profit-earning corporation in the U.S. must, legally, pay the federal corporate income tax. Many states also have their own corporate income tax, which corporations located in Flagstaff, Arizona have to remit.
At the federal level, and in certain 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 $18.3 million per year. Corporations earning less than $50,000 a year pay a 15% corporate tax rate, and there are a few tax brackets in between. For comparison, the federal income tax for persons maxes out at 33%.
The corporate tax rate in Arizona may also differ from the individual tax rate. However, in many states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual income tax rate. This is because many states believe that the ideal way to attract business (and therefore improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.
Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Flagstaff, Arizona are obligated to comply with state and federal income tax laws. Failure to pay income tax can be punished by massive fines, which can occasionally prove financially ruinous.
How Can a Flagstaff, Arizona Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?
Many bigger companies have corporate attorneys and accountants on staff who help them adhere with federal and state tax laws.
As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Flagstaff corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. So, if you run a small corporation, and are confused about the corporate tax issues that may affect you, it's a very good idea to retain the services of a Flagstaff, Arizona tax attorney immediately.