Tax Credit -Businesses with gross income between $250,000 & $300,000 will have credit available and pay only a percentage of their tax due.  For more information click here.

Job Credit Change

A change to TMC (Ordinance 27862) has redefined when an employer is required to pay back credits once an employer has lost eligibility for the credit.  As a result of the change, an employer is not required to pay back the tax credit received for any prior periods if "there exists or existed a recognized general economic recession or a declared natural disaster." 

If you have lost eligibility for one or more job credits, please complete the Jobs Credit Economic or Disaster Declaration form.  An auditor will review and contact you.  For more information please contact the Tax & License Division at 253-591-5252. 

New Resources for businesses seeking State of Washington information~

Customers looking for regulatory permit information can find a link to the Governor's Office of Regulatory Assistance.  This office was specifically created to help companies/people navigate the complex environmental permitting and licensing required by local cities, counties, state and federal agencies.   The ORA (Office of Regulatory Assistance) also provides small business assistance and works to improve the regulatory process.   This is a great website, especially to those in the trades such as construction.   Visit http://www.ora.wa.gov  for more information or call 1-800-917-0043. 

For business licensing assistance the state also has a great tool that will walk you through a series of questions and provide local licensing information. Visit http://access.wa.gov/business and click on “Start a business”.

Looking for City of Tacoma zoning, permit, or inspection information?

The City of Tacoma's zoning, permit, or inspection information is just a click away when you use the City of Tacoma's govME website.  Not sure if your business address is inside the city limits?  Not sure your current zoning allows you to have an auto body shop?  Do you want to see if you are located in an historical area?  All this information and more is available at govME today.

Do you have a monitored burglar or fire alarm inside the City of Tacoma?

Tacoma Municipal Code 6B.40 requires any business who monitors alarms located within the City of Tacoma have a Monitored Alarms Device License for each alarm system in Tacoma.  The $40.00 annual fee is paid on a per system basis. 

The alarm ordinance imposes all fees on the licensee the alarm company.  The City does not impose any fees directly on the alarm company customers.   The alarm companies may choose to absorb these fees or they may pass the fee along to their individual customers.  It is purely a business decision the alarm company makes based on their own business strategies and contracts with their customers. 

If you receive an invoice for a false alarm, only your monitoring company can file a dispute on your behalf.  Please contact them directly with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Service for Existing Tax & License Business Customers

GOT FORMS? Existing Tax & License customers can now view and print their license and tax return forms, update account information, and provide business closure information on-line by using the tacomaservices.org web site.  This feature allows Tax & License customers to access their information any time, day or night.  

Also on-line for your convenience is a Tax & License Business Records Search, similar to the Washington State Department of Revenue records search.  The City of Tacoma's Tax & License Business Records Database provides you with public information for businesses registered with the City of Tacoma.  It is a free service provided for informational purposes only.  Creating a list from this information for commercial purposes is prohibited by law.  This search does not require a Tacoma Services account to use, just plug in the information you do have and select from the returned results.

City of Tacoma Voluntary Registration

In the case of any unregistered taxpayer doing business in the city that voluntarily registers prior to being contacted by the department, the department shall not assess for back taxes or interest for more than four calendar years prior to the year of registration.  In addition, the late payment penalty imposed under TMC 6A.10.110(a) and 6B.10 shall not apply.

Please contact the City of Tacoma Tax & License office at (253) 591-5252 if you have additional questions. Title 6 of the Tacoma Municipal Code can be found here.