Tax Lawyers in El Segundo

The government of El Segundo, California collects taxes from its residents in order to pay for basic public services, like police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and public transit.

Taxes in El Segundo, California are derived from a wide variety of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always determined 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 El Segundo is required 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 El Segundo, California

Several different things can be taxed in El Segundo, 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 example, local governments collect revenue from sales taxes, licensing fees, as bridge tolls, among many other things.

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

Licensing Fees: The city of El Segundo may require business owners to obtain 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: Most large cities in the U.S. charge fees, or tolls, on automobiles entering the city via public bridges and highways. This money is, more or less, a tax on everyone who drives into El Segundo via public infrastructure. This means that everyone who visits is required to make at least a small contribution to the government services they'll be using while there.

How Can a El Segundo, California Tax Attorney Help?

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

Therefore, it's essential that you obtain the counsel of a qualified tax lawyer in El Segundo, California if you think that you might need help with your local taxes.