Tax Lawyers in St. Tammany Parish

To pay for basic services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana collects taxes.

Taxes in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana are derived from a wide variety of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always determined by law. A tax can come either in the form of a flat fee, or as a percentage of one's income, the value of a piece of property, or a sale.

In case you were wondering, paying your taxes in St. Tammany Parish is mandatory. The law requires it. So, if you don't pay your taxes, with very few exceptions, you are guilty of a crime, and will be punished accordingly.

Sources of Tax Dollars in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

Several different things can be taxed in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This is meant to ensure that there is a wide range of sources of tax revenue, and that the government does not have to rely too heavily on any one revenue stream that could dry up. For example, local governments collect revenue from sales taxes, licensing fees, as bridge tolls, among many other things.

Sales Tax: A sales tax in St. Tammany Parish is a surcharge added to the price of most goods that are sold by retailers to the general public. The government of also imposes a sales tax, which must be paid in addition to the local tax. Normally, local sales taxes are less than one percent, while state sales taxes are in the 5% range.

Licensing Fees: The city of St. Tammany Parish may require business owners to acquire 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: Most major cities charge a toll to enter them via major roads or bridges. These fees are meant to pay for the upkeep of general public infrastructure in St. Tammany Parish, by imposing a tax on visitors to it. In theory, this means that people who visit the city are required to contribute to the upkeep of the infrastructure that they will be using while present there.

How Can a St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Tax Attorney Help?

In St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly intricate, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Additionally, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Therefore, it's imperative that you obtain the counsel of a qualified tax lawyer in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana if you think that you might need help with your local taxes.