Corporate Tax Lawyers in Athens
In Athens, Georgia, a "corporation" is specified 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 concept is referred to as "corporate personhood" in Georgia, and it essentially means that, for many purposes under the law, corporations are treated the same as individual people, being subject to many of the same rights and responsibilities.
An discernible example of this concept is a corporation's obligation to pay income taxes similar to how an actual person would.
Corporate Tax Rate in Athens, Georgia
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 Athens, Georgia 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 tax rate in Georgia for corporations probably also differs from the taxes that individuals must pay. In some states, the government has determined 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.
Corporations in Athens, Georgia are obligated to pay both the state and federal corporate tax. Failing to pay either (or both) of these taxes can result in grave legal penalties, including fines that may prove ruinous, particularly for smaller businesses.
How Can a Athens, Georgia Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?
Many major corporations employ tax lawyers full time, to guarantee that they are in conformity with tax laws, and find legal means to reduce their tax liability.
Of course, smaller companies in Athens can't afford to have full-time legal and accounting departments on their payroll. Therefore, if your business is organized as a corporation, and has an issue with its taxes, it's essential that you contact an Athens, Georgia tax attorney as soon as possible.