Corporate Tax Lawyers in La Palma

In La Palma, 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 La Palma, 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 La Palma, California are required to pay it.

Under the federal tax system, and the tax laws of some states, corporate income is taxed at a different rate from the income of individuals. For example, the top federal income tax rate for corporations is 35%, compared with 33% for individuals. The highest tax rate applies to corporations making more than .3 million per year. The lowest corporate tax rate is 15%, applying to those corporations that make less than ,000 per year.

In California the corporate tax rate probably differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have determined that the local economy benefits most when it is business-friendly. In those states, the corporate tax rate is normally lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.

Corporations in La Palma, 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 La Palma, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Most bigger companies have corporate attorneys and accountants on staff who help them comply with federal and state tax laws.

Of course, smaller companies in La Palma can't afford to have full-time legal and accounting departments on their payroll. Accordingly, if your business is organized as a corporation, and has an issue with its taxes, it's imperative that you contact a La Palma, California tax attorney as soon as possible.