Corporate Tax Lawyers in Hayward
In Hayward, California, 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 rule is called "corporate personhood." Basically, under the law of California, corporations are, in many ways, the same as individual human beings. Thus, 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 Hayward, California
Essentially 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 Hayward, California are required to pay it.
In most states, and at the federal level, corporations are taxed at a different rate than individuals. At the federal level, the corporate income tax maxes out at 35% for corporations that earn more than .3 million per year. Corporations that earn less than ,000 per year are taxed at 15%. There are various tax brackets in between. However, the individual federal income tax rate tops at 33%.
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. Thus, in some states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual tax rate.
In any case, Hayward, California corporations have to pay both the state and federal income tax. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to severe penalties, such as very large fines. These fines can be big enough to put some smaller companies out of business. Suffice to say, it's typically cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.
How Can a Hayward, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?
Most very large corporations have tax attorneys and accountants on staff, as full-time employees, who help them stay in compliance with all applicable state and federal income tax laws.
But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Hayward, 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 crucial that you speak with a lawyer in Hayward, California who practices tax law.