Corporate Tax Lawyers in Cambridge
In Cambridge, Maryland, 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 Maryland, 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 these commitments is the duty to pay income tax in much the same way as an individual person.
Corporate Tax Rate in Cambridge, Maryland
Every corporation in the United States is obligated to pay federal income tax. Most states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations doing business in Cambridge, Maryland are obligated to pay.
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%.
In Maryland the corporate tax rate likely differs from the individual tax rate as well. In many states, policymakers have decided 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.
In any case, Cambridge, Maryland 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 Cambridge, Maryland 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 Cambridge 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 Cambridge, Maryland tax attorney immediately.