Corporate Tax Lawyers in Portland

In Portland, Maine, 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 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 discernible example of this concept is a corporation's obligation to pay income taxes similar to how an actual person would.

Corporate Tax Rate in Portland, Maine

Every corporation in the United States is required to pay federal income tax. Most states also have a corporate income tax, which corporations doing business in Portland, Maine are required to pay.

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.

The corporate tax rate in Maine 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 best way to attract business (and consequently improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

In Portland, Maine, corporations must pay both the federal and state corporate income tax. Failing to pay these taxes can result in severe punishment, including huge fines which can put a corporation out of business.

How Can a Portland, Maine Corporate Tax Lawyer Help?

Most very large corporations have tax attorneys and accountants on staff, as full-time employees, who help them stay in compliance with all applicable state and federal income tax laws.

As most business owners know, however, the majority of small Portland corporations can't afford to have attorneys on staff full time. Thus, 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 Portland, Maine tax attorney immediately.