Corporate Tax Lawyers in Burlingame
In Burlingame, California, a "corporation" is defined 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 rule is called "corporate personhood." Basically, under the law of California, corporations are, in many ways, the same as individual human beings. So, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.
One of a corporation's primary legal obligations is its duty to pay income taxes, as an actual person would.
Corporate Tax Rate in Burlingame, California
Every corporation in the United States is required to pay federal income tax. Most states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations doing business in Burlingame, California are required to pay.
The federal corporate income tax rate is different from the tax rate that applies to individuals. The highest corporate tax rate at the federal level is 35% of income - applying to companies that make over .3 million per year. Corporations earning under ,000 pay a 15% tax rate. There are several tax brackets in between.
There's also a good chance that the tax rate applicable to corporations in California differ from the individual tax rates. Some states feel that the best economic policy is to attract as many businesses as they can. So, in some states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual tax rate.
Corporations in Burlingame, California 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 Burlingame, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?
The majority of big corporations have accountants, tax lawyers, and other legal/financial specialists on staff to ensure that they comply with state and national corporate tax laws.
As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Burlingame 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 Burlingame, California tax attorney immediately.