Tax Lawyers in Sterling

To pay for general services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of Sterling, Illinois collects taxes.

Taxes in Sterling, Illinois can come from a wide number of sources, but they are always collected at a rate set by law. Sometimes, taxes might come in the form of flat fees, and other times they are collected as a percentage of something, such as a person's income or the value of a piece of property.

You are legally-obligated to pay your taxes in Sterling. 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 Sterling, Illinois

Taxes can come from a wide number of sources in Sterling, Illinois, such as sales tax, administrative/licensing fees, and tolls.

Sales Tax: Generally cities in the U.S., as well as most states, charge a sales tax. In Sterling, 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 city of Sterling may require business owners to get a license from the local government before they begin operating within city limits. Typically, the main hurdle involved in obtaining one of these licenses is paying a fee to the city government. Although these payments are called "fees" as opposed to "taxes," they operate in the same way, and serve largely the same purpose, as taxes.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Many larger cities in the U.S. charge tolls to enter the city via main highways or bridges. This amounts to a tax paid for the privilege of entering Sterling if it has such toll roads. Besides being a basic source of revenue, these tolls require visitors to the city, who will have many city services available to them while they visit, to pay at least some contribution to these services.

How Can a Sterling, Illinois Tax Attorney Help?

Tax Law in Sterling, Illinois is sometimes simple. More often than not, however, some wrinkle appears that makes determining one's tax liability more convoluted than it probably needs to be. Furthermore, many individuals and groups are legally entitled to tax breaks and deductions, which can make figuring out one's tax liability even more difficult.

If you have any legal issues with your taxes, you should obtain legal advice from a qualified and reputable tax attorney in Sterling, Illinois.