Tax Lawyers in Portland
Taxes in Portland, Oregon are collected out of necessity. They pay for basic public services, which most of us take for granted.
Taxes in Portland, Oregon can come from a wide number of sources, but they are always collected at a rate set by law. Sometimes, taxes might come in the form of flat fees, and other times they are collected as a percentage of something, such as a person's income or the value of a piece of property.
Paying your taxes in Portland is not optional. It is obligated by law. If you don't pay your taxes, you could face stiff fines, and even jail time.
Sources of Tax Dollars in Portland, Oregon
A wide number of activities are subject to taxation in Portland, Oregon, creating a considerable range of revenue sources. For example, cities typically impose a sales tax, charge fees for certain licenses, and collect tolls on roads and bridges.
Sales Tax: The sales tax imposed by Portland 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 Portland, 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 everybody who drives into Portland via public infrastructure. This means that everyone who visits is obligated to make at least a small contribution to the government services they'll be using while there.
How Can a Portland, Oregon Tax Attorney Help?
In Portland, Oregon, tax law can get pretty complicated. Taxes are levied on a huge range of products and activities, and they are often calculated in complicated ways. Additionally, many groups and individuals are subject to special tax breaks and exemptions, which might or might not apply to you.
Therefore, it's very important that you seek the advice of a knowledgeable Portland, Oregon tax attorney if you have any type of issue involving local taxes.