Corporate Tax Lawyers in Santa Clara County

In Santa Clara County, California, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. So, 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. So, 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 Santa Clara County, California

All corporations in America have to pay a federal income tax. Many states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations operating in Santa Clara County, California have to pay.

Under federal laws that govern corporate income taxes, corporations pay a different income tax rate from individual people. Corporations pay a maximum federal income tax rate of 35%, and a minimum rate of 15%, depending on their income. The high tax rate applies to corporations that make .3 million per year, and the low rate applies to any company bringing in less than ,000.

The tax rate in California for corporations probably also differs from the taxes that individuals must pay. In some states, the government has decided that their interests would be best served by making corporate taxes as low as possible. So in many states, the tax rate for corporations is much lower than the one paid by individuals, unlike the federal corporate tax.

Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Santa Clara County, California are required to comply with state and federal income tax laws. Failure to pay income tax can be punished by massive fines, which can sometimes prove financially ruinous.

How Can a Santa Clara County, 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 Santa Clara County, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. So, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's important that you speak with a lawyer in Santa Clara County, California who practices tax law.