Corporate Tax Lawyers in Lawrence
In Lawrence, Massachusetts, 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 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 major legal duties a corporation has is the requirement that it pay taxes on its income, just as a person would.
Corporate Tax Rate in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Every profit-earning corporation in the U.S. must, legally, pay the federal corporate income tax. Many states also have their own corporate income tax, which corporations located in Lawrence, Massachusetts have to remit.
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 Massachusetts 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.
In any case, Lawrence, Massachusetts corporations have to pay both the state and federal income tax. If they fail to do so, they can be subject to grave penalties, such as very large fines. These fines can be big enough to put some smaller companies out of business. Suffice to say, it's usually cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.
How Can a Lawrence, Massachusetts 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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence, Massachusetts tax attorney immediately.