Corporate Tax Lawyers in Amherst

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

This concept is referred to as "corporate personhood" in Massachusetts, and it essentially means that, for many purposes under the law, corporations are treated the same as individual people, being subject to many of the same rights and responsibilities.

One of the main legal duties a corporation has is the requirement that it pay taxes on its income, just as a person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Amherst, Massachusetts

All corporations in America have to pay a federal income tax. Several states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations operating in Amherst, Massachusetts have to pay.

Under the federal tax system, and the tax laws of some states, corporate income is taxed at a different rate from the income of individuals. For example, the top federal income tax rate for corporations is 35%, compared with 33% for individuals. The highest tax rate applies to corporations making more than .3 million per year. The lowest corporate tax rate is 15%, applying to those corporations that make less than ,000 per year.

Likewise, chances are good that the corporate tax rate in Massachusetts are different from individual income taxes. However, many states feel that their economies would be best served by attracting as many businesses as possible. For that reasons, in a large number of states, the corporate income tax rate is significantly lower than the individual rate.

Whatever a company's legal tax rate is, all corporations in Amherst, Massachusetts must pay the taxes assessed against them. If they don't, they can be made to pay very large fines - usually much larger than their original tax bill.

How Can a Amherst, Massachusetts Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Most very large corporations have tax attorneys and accountants on staff, as full-time employees, who help them stay in compliance with all applicable state and federal income tax laws.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in Amherst, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. So, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's crucial that you speak with a lawyer in Amherst, Massachusetts who practices tax law.