Corporate Tax Lawyers in Shreveport

In Shreveport, Louisiana, a "corporation" is an entity that is, under the law, distinct from any of its owners. Essentially, this means that the people who own a corporation, and the corporation itself, are distinct "persons."

This rule is called "corporate personhood." Essentially, under the law of Louisiana, corporations are, in many ways, the same as individual human beings. So, corporations have some of the same legal rights and obligations as actual people.

An noticeable example of this concept is a corporation's obligation to pay income taxes similar to how an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Shreveport, Louisiana

Every corporation in the U.S. which has taxable income must pay its share of the federal corporate income tax. The majority of states also have a corporate income tax, which Shreveport, Louisiana corporations are required 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 corporate tax rate in Louisiana 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 ideal way to attract business (and therefore improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

Whatever their legal tax rate, all corporations in Shreveport, Louisiana are obligated to comply with state and federal income tax laws. Failure to pay income tax can be punished by massive fines, which can occasionally prove financially ruinous.

How Can a Shreveport, Louisiana 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 Shreveport 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 Shreveport, Louisiana tax attorney immediately.