Tax Lawyers in Kern County

The government of Kern County, 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 Kern County, 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 Kern County 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 Kern County, California

A wide variety of activities are subject to taxation in Kern County, California, creating a considerable range of revenue sources. For example, cities typically impose a sales tax, charge fees for certain licenses, and collect tolls on roads and bridges.

Sales Tax: A sales tax in Kern County 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. Normally, local sales taxes are less than one percent, while state sales taxes are in the 5% range.

Licensing Fees: The city of Kern County 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: Most major cities charge a toll to enter them via major roads or bridges. These fees are meant to pay for the upkeep of general public infrastructure in Kern County, by imposing a tax on visitors to it. In theory, this means that people who visit the city are required to contribute to the upkeep of the infrastructure that they will be using while present there.

How Can a Kern County, California Tax Attorney Help?

In Kern County, California, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly intricate, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Additionally, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Accordingly, it's very important that you seek the advice of a knowledgeable Kern County, California tax attorney if you have any type of issue involving local taxes.