Tax Lawyers in Bristol County

To pay for general services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of Bristol County, Massachusetts collects taxes.

In Bristol County, Massachusetts, there are numerous different sources of tax revenue. Irrespective of the source, however, taxes are always levied in amounts decided by the relevant laws. Typically, taxes are calculated as a percentage of something, such as income or home value. Sometimes, however, they are simply collected as a flat fee (usually in exchange for a license or permit).

Residents of Bristol County are legally obligated to pay their taxes. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties, criminal fines, and even imprisonment.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Bristol County, Massachusetts

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

Sales Tax: In Bristol County, the sales tax is a tax that's added to the price of goods at the point of sale. Typically, you have to pay a city sales tax on top of whatever sales tax is levied by . Normally, the local sales tax is much smaller than the state tax, which is typically in the area of 5-8%, with the city tax most often being less than one percent.

Licensing Fees: The city of Bristol County 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: 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 Bristol County 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 Bristol County, Massachusetts Tax Attorney Help?

In Bristol County, Massachusetts, 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. Furthermore, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Thus, if you have any questions or problems with your taxes in Bristol County, Massachusetts, it's very important to speak with a knowledgeable Bristol County tax law specialist.