Tax Lawyers in East Palo Alto

The government of East Palo Alto, California collects taxes from its residents in order to pay for general public services, like police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and public transit.

Taxes in East Palo Alto, California are derived from a wide number of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always decided by law. A tax can come either in the form of a flat fee, or as a percentage of one's income, the value of a piece of property, or a sale.

Everyone in East Palo Alto is obligated by law to pay the taxes they owe. If you fail to do this, you could end up facing jail time.

Sources of Tax Dollars in East Palo Alto, California

Numerous different things can be taxed in East Palo Alto, California. This is meant to ensure that there is a wide range of sources of tax revenue, and that the government does not have to rely too heavily on any one revenue stream that could dry up. For instance, local governments collect revenue from sales taxes, licensing fees, as bridge tolls, among several other things.

Sales Tax: A sales tax in East Palo Alto is a surcharge added to the price of most goods that are sold by retailers to the general public. The government of further imposes a sales tax, which must be paid in addition to the local tax. Normally, local sales taxes are less than one percent, while state sales taxes are in the 5% range.

Licensing Fees: The city of East Palo Alto may require business owners to acquire a license from the local government before they begin operating within city limits. Typically, the main hurdle involved in obtaining one of these licenses is paying a fee to the city government. Although these payments are called "fees" as opposed to "taxes," they operate in the same way, and serve largely the same purpose, as taxes.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Many larger cities in the U.S. charge tolls to enter the city via main highways or bridges. This amounts to a tax paid for the privilege of entering East Palo Alto if it has such toll roads. Besides being a basic source of revenue, these tolls require visitors to the city, who will have many city services available to them while they visit, to pay at least some contribution to these services.

How Can a East Palo Alto, California Tax Attorney Help?

In East Palo Alto, California, many different laws and regulations govern taxes, making the theoretically simple task of determining one's tax liability pretty convoluted. On top of that, there are many different breaks and exemptions that apply to specific types of groups and individuals, further complicating things.

If you have any legal issues with your taxes, you should pursue legal advice from a skilled and reputable tax attorney in East Palo Alto, California.