Corporate Tax Lawyers in Westport

In Westport, 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 Westport, Massachusetts

Virtually 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 Westport, Massachusetts are required to pay it.

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.

In Massachusetts the corporate tax rate probably differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have determined that the local economy benefits most when it is business-friendly. In those states, the corporate tax rate is typically lower than the individual income tax rate, unlike the federal system, where the corporate tax rate is higher.

Whatever a company's legal tax rate is, all corporations in Westport, 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 Westport, Massachusetts Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

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

Of course, smaller companies in Westport can't afford to have full-time legal and accounting departments on their payroll. Accordingly, if your business is organized as a corporation, and has an issue with its taxes, it's essential that you contact a Westport, Massachusetts tax attorney as soon as possible.