Corporate Tax Lawyers in Fort Madison

In Fort Madison, Iowa, a "corporation" is defined as a legal entity that's separate from its owners. Thus, from a legal standpoint, the owner of a corporation and the corporation itself are not the same "person."

This system is sometimes called "corporate personhood" by Iowa lawyers. It means, in simple terms, that the law treats a corporation just as it would treat a human being - having most of the legal rights and duties that also apply to individuals.

One of a corporation's primary legal obligations is its duty to pay income taxes, as an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Fort Madison, Iowa

Every corporation in the U.S. which has taxable income must pay its share of the federal corporate income tax. The majority of states additionally have a corporate income tax, which Fort Madison, Iowa corporations are required to pay.

In most states, and at the federal level, corporations are taxed at a different rate than individuals. At the federal level, the corporate income tax maxes out at 35% for corporations that earn more than .3 million per year. Corporations that earn less than ,000 per year are taxed at 15%. There are various tax brackets in between. However, the individual federal income tax rate tops at 33%.

The corporate tax rate in Iowa may also differ from the individual tax rate. However, in many states, the corporate tax rate is lower than the individual income tax rate. This is because many states believe that the best way to attract business (and consequently improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Fort Madison, Iowa 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 Fort Madison, Iowa Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

The majority of big corporations have accountants, tax lawyers, and other legal/financial specialists on staff to ensure that they comply with state and national corporate tax laws.

As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Fort Madison corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. Thus, if you run a small corporation, and are confused about the corporate tax issues that may affect you, it's a very good idea to retain the services of a Fort Madison, Iowa tax attorney immediately.