Tax Lawyers in New Orleans
To pay for general services like police, schools, firefighters, libraries, and hospitals, the government of New Orleans, Louisiana collects taxes.
Taxes in New Orleans, Louisiana are derived from a wide number of sources. Regardless of the source, however, the amount that's taken is never arbitrary, and is always decided by law. A tax can come either in the form of a flat fee, or as a percentage of one's income, the value of a piece of property, or a sale.
In case you were wondering, paying your taxes in New Orleans is mandatory. The law states it. So, if you don't pay your taxes, with extremely few exceptions, you are guilty of a crime, and will be punished accordingly.
Sources of Tax Dollars in New Orleans, Louisiana
Various different things can be taxed in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is meant to ensure that there is a wide range of sources of tax revenue, and that the government does not have to rely too heavily on any one revenue stream that could dry up. For instance, local governments collect revenue from sales taxes, licensing fees, as bridge tolls, among several other things.
Sales Tax: In New Orleans, there may be a sales tax on top of the sales tax imposed by the government of . City sales taxes are usually pretty small, usually in the range of one percent or less, as opposed to the 5-7% sales taxes imposed by most states.
Licensing Fees: New Orleans issues licenses that are required to legally engage in certain activities. Most often, the purpose of these licenses is to raise revenue in the form of fees, making them comparable to taxes. One of the most common is the business license, which most businesses must obtain before operating.
Bridge/Road Tolls: Many larger cities in the U.S. charge tolls to enter the city via main highways or bridges. This amounts to a tax paid for the privilege of entering New Orleans if it has such toll roads. Besides being a basic 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 New Orleans, Louisiana Tax Attorney Help?
Tax Law in New Orleans, Louisiana is sometimes simple. More often than not, however, some wrinkle appears that makes determining one's tax liability more convoluted 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.
Thus, it's extremely important that you obtain the advice of a qualified New Orleans, Louisiana tax attorney if you have any tax law questions.