Tax Lawyers in Columbia

To pay for basic services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of Columbia, Missouri collects taxes.

In Columbia, Missouri, 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, normally in the context of licensing fees or car registration fees, taxes are set at a flat rate.

You are legally-required to pay your taxes in Columbia. If you fail to pay your taxes, without a compelling reason, you are committing a crime, and may end up going to jail as a result.

Sources of Tax Dollars in Columbia, Missouri

There are a considerable number of different sources of tax revenue in Columbia, Missouri. They include, among many others, sales tax, licensing fees, and road tolls.

Sales Tax: The sales tax imposed by Columbia is on top of the sales tax collected by the government of . Sales taxes are typically fairly small - about 5-7% at the state level, plus a city sales tax that's typically one percent or less.

Licensing Fees: In Columbia, licenses are required to engage in many different activities, or at least to do so legally. The most prevalent of these are business licenses. While some professions require licenses because the state has an interest in ensuring competence in them (in law and medicine, for instance), many business licenses exist for the primary purpose of gathering revenue, and therefore serve the same purpose as taxes.

Bridge/Road Tolls: Most large cities in the U.S. charge fees, or tolls, on automobiles entering the city via public bridges and highways. This money is, more or less, a tax on everyone who drives into Columbia via public infrastructure. This means that everyone who visits is required to make at least a small contribution to the government services they'll be using while there.

How Can a Columbia, Missouri Tax Attorney Help?

Tax Law in Columbia, Missouri is not simple. Taxes are imposed on a wide range of activities, and the manner in which they're calculated can be very confusing. Moreover, there are usually special tax breaks or exemptions that may or may not apply to you.

Thus, if you have any questions or problems with your taxes in Columbia, Missouri, it's very important to speak with a knowledgeable Columbia tax law specialist.