Tax Lawyers in Santa Clara County

The government of Santa Clara County, California collects taxes from its residents in order to pay for basic public services, like police and fire departments, libraries, hospitals, and public transit.

Taxes in Santa Clara County, California are derived from a wide variety of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always determined 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-required to pay your taxes in Santa Clara County. 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 Santa Clara County, California

Taxes can come from a wide variety of sources in Santa Clara County, California, such as sales tax, administrative/licensing fees, and tolls.

Sales Tax: Mostly cities in the U.S., as well as most states, charge a sales tax. In Santa Clara County, 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 government of Santa Clara County issues licenses for engaging in a wide variety of different activities. Most often, they issue business licenses, which business owners must obtain before operating any type of business in city limit. The most important of this process is usually paying a fee. While these taxes are called "fees," instead of "taxes," they are functionally identical, and serve the same purpose (namely, raising revenue).

Bridge/Road Tolls: Most major cities charge a toll to enter them via major roads or bridges. These fees are meant to pay for the upkeep of basic public infrastructure in Santa Clara County, by imposing a tax on visitors to it. In theory, this means that people who visit the city are required to contribute to the upkeep of the infrastructure that they will be using while present there.

How Can a Santa Clara County, California Tax Attorney Help?

In Santa Clara County, California, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly complex, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Additionally, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Therefore, it's essential that you obtain the counsel of a qualified tax lawyer in Santa Clara County, California if you think that you might need help with your local taxes.