Tax Lawyers in San Jose
The government of San Jose, California collects taxes from its residents in order to pay for general public services, like police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and public transit.
Taxes in San Jose, California are derived from a wide number of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always decided 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.
You are legally-obligated to pay your taxes in San Jose. If you fail to pay your taxes, without a compelling reason, you are committing a crime, and may end up going to jail as a result.
Sources of Tax Dollars in San Jose, California
Taxes can come from a wide number of sources in San Jose, California, such as sales tax, administrative/licensing fees, and tolls.
Sales Tax: Generally cities in the U.S., as well as most states, charge a sales tax. In San Jose, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most goods and services. The rate varies from state to state, and city to city.
Licensing Fees: The city of San Jose may require business owners to get 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 main roads or bridges. These fees are meant to pay for the upkeep of main public infrastructure in San Jose, by imposing a tax on visitors to it. In theory, this means that individuals who visit the city are obligated to contribute to the upkeep of the infrastructure that they will be using while present there.
How Can a San Jose, California Tax Attorney Help?
In San Jose, California, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly complicated, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Furthermore, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.
Therefore, it's very important that you seek the advice of a reliable San Jose, California tax attorney if you have any type of issue involving local taxes.