Tax Lawyers in Genesee County

To pay for basic services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of Genesee County, Michigan collects taxes.

In Genesee County, Michigan, taxes are derived from various sources. Regardless of where a particular tax comes from, it is always collected in an amount dictated by law. Most often, taxes are calculated as a percentage of income, sales, or property value. Sometimes, typically in the context of licensing fees or car registration fees, taxes are set at a flat rate.

Residents of Genesee County are legally required to pay their taxes. Failure to do so can result in civil penalties, criminal fines, and even imprisonment.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Genesee County, Michigan

Taxes can come from a wide variety of sources in Genesee County, Michigan, such as sales tax, administrative/licensing fees, and tolls.

Sales Tax: A sales tax in Genesee County is a surcharge added to the price of most goods that are sold by retailers to the general public. The government of also imposes a sales tax, which must be paid in addition to the local tax. Typically, local sales taxes are less than one percent, while state sales taxes are in the 5% range.

Licensing Fees: The city of Genesee County may require business owners to obtain a license from the local government before they begin operating within city limits. Typically, the main hurdle involved in obtaining one of these licenses is paying a fee to the city government. Although these payments are called "fees" as opposed to "taxes," they operate in the same way, and serve largely the same purpose, as taxes.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Many larger cities in the U.S. charge tolls to enter the city via major highways or bridges. This amounts to a tax paid for the privilege of entering Genesee County if it has such toll roads. Besides being a general source of revenue, these tolls require visitors to the city, who will have many city services available to them while they visit, to pay at least some contribution to these services.

How Can a Genesee County, Michigan Tax Attorney Help?

In Genesee County, Michigan, the laws and regulations that govern the tax system are fairly complex, even if determining one's tax rate is, in theory, a simple matter. Additionally, there are many different exemptions, breaks, and deductions that can make the matter even more complex.

Therefore, it's extremely important that you obtain the advice of a qualified Genesee County, Michigan tax attorney if you have any tax law questions.