Corporate Tax Lawyers in Rochester

In Rochester, 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 basically 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 Rochester, Massachusetts

Practically every for-profit corporation in the U.S. is required to pay taxes on its income each year. Most states also have their own corporate income tax. All corporations in Rochester, Massachusetts are required to pay it.

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%.

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 substantially lower than the individual rate.

In any case, Rochester, 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 normally cheaper for corporations to pay their taxes than to not.

How Can a Rochester, Massachusetts Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Many bigger companies have corporate attorneys and accountants on staff who help them adhere with federal and state tax laws.

However, if you are the owner of a smaller corporation in Rochester, you likely can't afford a full-time in-house lawyer. For that reason, you should retain an attorney in Rochester, Massachusetts who practices tax law, on an as-needed basis, if you ever encounter a corporate tax issue, such as an audi