Corporate Tax Lawyers in Houlton

In Houlton, Maine, 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 Maine, and it typically 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.

An noticeable example of this concept is a corporation's obligation to pay income taxes similar to how an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Houlton, Maine

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 Houlton, Maine 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%.

The tax rate in Maine for corporations probably also differs from the taxes that individuals must pay. In some states, the government has determined that their interests would be best served by making corporate taxes as low as possible. So in many states, the tax rate for corporations is much lower than the one paid by individuals, unlike the federal corporate tax.

Corporations in Houlton, Maine are obligated to pay both the state and federal corporate tax. Failing to pay either (or both) of these taxes can result in grave legal penalties, including fines that may prove ruinous, particularly for smaller businesses.

How Can a Houlton, Maine Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

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

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