Tax Lawyers in Whatcom County

Necessary services in Whatcom County, Washington, like roads, police, and schools, are paid for by gathering taxes from residents.

Taxes in Whatcom County, Washington 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.

You are legally-obligated to pay your taxes in Whatcom County. 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 Whatcom County, Washington

A wide number of activities are subject to taxation in Whatcom County, Washington, 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 Whatcom County 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: The city of Whatcom County may require business owners to acquire 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: 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 Whatcom County 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 Whatcom County, Washington Tax Attorney Help?

Tax Law in Whatcom County, Washington is sometimes simple. More often than not, however, some wrinkle appears that makes determining one's tax liability more confusing than it probably needs to be. Furthermore, many individuals and groups are legally entitled to tax breaks and deductions, which can make figuring out one's tax liability even more difficult.

Therefore, it's very important that you seek the advice of a knowledgeable Whatcom County, Washington tax attorney if you have any type of issue involving local taxes.