Corporate Tax Lawyers in Montclair

In Montclair, California, a "corporation" is specified 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." Essentially, 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.

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

Corporate Tax Rate in Montclair, California

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

At the federal level, and in certain 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 persons maxes out at 33%.

The corporate tax rate in California may also differ from the individual tax rate. However, in many states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual income tax rate. This is because many states believe that the ideal way to attract business (and consequently improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

In any case, Montclair, California corporations have to pay both the state and federal income tax. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to grave 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 Montclair, California Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Many larger corporations have lawyers and accountants who guarantee that they are in complete compliance with both state and federal tax law.

As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Montclair corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. Thus, if you run a small corporation, and are confused about the corporate tax issues that may affect you, it's a very good idea to retain the services of a Montclair, California tax attorney immediately.