Corporate Tax Lawyers in Chicago
In Chicago, Illinois, 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 system is occasionally called "corporate personhood" by Illinois 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.
As a prime example, corporations have to pay income taxes, just as a person would.
Corporate Tax Rate in Chicago, Illinois
All corporations in America have to pay a federal income tax. Numerous states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations operating in Chicago, Illinois 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.
In Illinois the corporate tax rate likely differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have decided that the local economy benefits most when it is business-friendly. In those states, the corporate tax rate is typically lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.
In any case, Chicago, Illinois corporations have to pay both the state and federal income tax. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to grave penalties, such as very large fines. These fines can be big enough to put some smaller companies out of business. Suffice to say, it's usually cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.
How Can a Chicago, Illinois Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?
Many larger corporations have lawyers and accountants who guarantee that they are in complete compliance with both state and federal tax law.
As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Chicago corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. So, 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 Chicago, Illinois tax attorney immediately.