Corporate Tax Lawyers in East Lansing

In East Lansing, Michigan, 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 Michigan, 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.

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 East Lansing, Michigan

Every profit-earning corporation in the U.S. must, legally, pay the federal corporate income tax. Many states also have their own corporate income tax, which corporations located in East Lansing, Michigan have to remit.

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 corporate tax rate in Michigan 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 ideal way to attract business (and therefore improve their economies) is to have a low corporate tax rate.

In any case, East Lansing, Michigan 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 East Lansing, Michigan 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.

But if you are the owner of a small corporation in East Lansing, chances are you don't have a full-service legal department on your payroll. So, if you need help with your corporate taxes, it's critical that you speak with a lawyer in East Lansing, Michigan who practices tax law.