Legal Question in Business Law in California
If a teenager wants to start a Film Editing Service in his/her garage, and the city zoning allows it, what is the requirment on taxes and permits/licenses (in California). is the teen required to pay taxes, and have a license?
1 Answer from Attorneys
The important age distinction is not "teenager" per se, but minor vs. adult. If you are 18 or 19, you may steill be a teenager, but in the eyes of the law you are an adult.
If, however, you are 17 or younger, you are a minor, sometimes referred to in old-fashioned law-talk as an "infant."
Since contracts made by minors are more often than not unenforceable, especially if they are contracts made in the course of running a business, it is hugely impractical for an under-18 minor to run a business. Not impossible, but without an adult to sign the contracts and hence be pretty much in charge, minors are greatly handicapped in trying to make deals and conduct business.
I do not know whether minors can be issued business licenses or not.........but running a business without a required license would not be excusable because the operator was a minor and ineligible for the required license. You'd be outta luck there.
As far as taxes go, they impact everyone equally, with a few exceptions, from birth to death. The exceptions mainly involve exemptions for seniors.
Related Questions & Answers
-
Would someone who is doing "Friends and Family" lending be consider... Asked 1/13/10, 1:16 pm in United States California Business Law
-
If the house fell out of escrow because the close date given was 11/24/09 the... Asked 1/12/10, 10:45 am in United States California Business Law