Corporate Tax Lawyers in Merced

In Merced, California, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. Therefore, 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. Therefore, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.

As a prime example, corporations have to pay income taxes, just as a person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Merced, California

Every corporation in the United States is required to pay federal income tax. Most states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations doing business in Merced, California are required to pay.

At the federal level, and in some states, corporations are taxed at different rates from individuals. Federally, the top corporate tax rate is 35% - a rate applying to corporations earning more than .3 million per year. Corporations earning less than ,000 a year pay a 15% corporate tax rate, and there are a few tax brackets in between. For comparison, the federal income tax for individuals maxes out at 33%.

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 usually lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.

Corporations in Merced, 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 Merced, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Many major corporations employ tax lawyers full time, to ensure that they are in compliance with tax laws, and find legal means to reduce their tax liability.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Merced, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. Therefore, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's crucial that you speak with a lawyer in Merced, California who practices tax law.