Locate Florida Tax Lawyers

In Florida "taxes" are monies taken from individuals or corporations by the government, at a rate set by law.

The taxes that Florida collects pay for necessary public services like roads, firefighters, police, courts, schools, and many other benefits that come with living in a modern society.

Everyone who legally resides in Florida is obliged to pay their taxes. If you don't pay the taxes assessed against you, you are committing a severe criminal offense, punishable by jail time and large fines.

Sources of Tax Revenue in Florida

Taxes in Florida can be derived from a large number of different sources, and in different amounts. The most typical sources of tax revenue nationwide are Sales Tax, Income Tax, and Property Tax.

Sales Tax: Most states collect a tax on the sales of goods. In Florida, the sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the sale price of most (but typically not all) items. Technically, the tax is assessed against the sellers of goods. However, the vast majority of vendors pass this tax onto their customers, adding it to the marked price of a product at the point of sale.

Income Tax: Everyone in the U.S., including residents of Florida, is obliged to pay a federal income tax, assuming they bring in any income. Most states also have a personal income tax, though some states do not. The majority of Americans derive almost all of their income from employment wages. Normally, their federal and (if applicable) state income taxes are deducted from their paychecks. This is beneficial, in that your taxes are paid as you go, and you usually don't have a large tax bill at the end of the year. Depending on one's income, the federal income tax rate can be as low as 10%, or as high as 33%.

Property Tax: Along with mortgage payments, property taxes in Florida are one of the biggest expenses associated with home ownership. In order to collect property taxes, the state or local government appraises the value of every privately-owned piece of real estate in its jurisdiction. It then collects a specific percentage of that value in taxes. In order to avoid having to pay a massive tax bill at the end of each year, most people elect to pay their property taxes in monthly installments.

How Can A Florida Tax Lawyer Help?

If you participate in the economy of Florida, whether it's by running a business, earning a wage, or owning property, you're likely to have some tax obligations.

In Florida, tax law can get pretty intricate. There are lawyers in Florida who only practice tax law, and nothing else. This should impress upon you the fact that taxes are governed by a large and complex body of laws. For that reason, if you have an issue with your state or federal taxes in Florida, such as an audit, you should not hesitate to speak with a knowledgeable tax attorney.

Interesting Facts About Florida

Florida is located at the very southeastern tip of the United States. Its official nickname is "The Sunshine State", on account of its tropical climate and beach/peninsula culture. Florida's state capitol is Tallahassee, and it is the fourth most highly populated state in the U.S. It has an extensive state university system and is largely driven by the tourism and vacation industries.

Until the year 1973, Florida had a very complex and sometimes confusing trial court system. Later on, the Florida trial court system was redeveloped to make it much simpler. Currently, Florida operates a two-tiered trial court system consisting of County Courts (a.k.a., "People's Courts") and Circuit Courts. Higher-level claims and some appeals are heard in one of Florida's District Courts, or at the Florida Supreme Court. However, the majority of legal claims and Florida originate at the County and Circuit Court levels.

Florida is also known as the "Fishing Capital of the World". Thus, many of Florida's laws involve regulation of coastal waters and various other marine issues. Florida is also known for several unique laws, covering distinct issues such as potable water, mandatory auto inspections, and prohibitions on the open-carrying of handguns.

Lawyers in Florida study diligently to learn the specific laws and regulations enforced in the state. This allows them to meet the community's legal needs in a manner that is thorough and efficient. As Florida is also national border state, many attorneys in Florida are familiar with broader international legal issues.