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City of Los Angeles
Office of Finance

Online Business Tax Renewals

General Instructions

We developed electronic forms to make it easier for you to pay your annual City business taxes. After you enter the required information, the forms will automatically calculate the tax owed.

After reading the information below, please click here to go to eFiling.

eFiling is available for taxpayer use 24 hours/day with the exception of scheduled system maintenance periods, as listed here.

You are required to remit payments of $50,000 or more by an electronic funds transfer payment (ACH) through your bank. The City of Los Angeles receives electronic payments via the Federal Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. You must pre-register no later than February 14th in order to make an ACH payment. Visit our Electronic Funds Transfer Payments (ACH) page for more information.

Please note that you can only use the forms if your business is currently registered. If you are a new business, you need to obtain an Application for a Business Tax Registration Certificate [PDF, 1 page, 3652 KB]. If you have sold, transferred, or discontinued your business or any portion of your business, please do not file electronically. Instead, complete, print and mail a set of the forms or use the renewal form that was mailed to you in December. If you need a tax classification change please contact us for assistance. 

Note: In 2005, all businesses were issued a new 15-digit account number that appeared on the renewal form that was mailed to you. When filing tax renewals online, you must enter this 15-digit account number (with the dashes) on the log-in page.

Secure Transmission: The City of Los Angeles protects your Personal and Credit Card information using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. To use the application you need to accept a New Site Certificate. An install wizard will guide you through the steps. Please accept the defaults to install the Certificate.

Filing Date Extensions - You cannot use electronic submission to file for a date extension. You must submit your requests through regular postal mail. You may request in writing an extension of the filing deadline by a maximum of 45 days for good cause. You must pay at least 90% of the total tax due for any extension request.  The payment must be received or postmarked by February 28th . If we receive less than 90% of the total tax due by February 28th, we will apply interest and a 20% penalty to any unpaid principal tax due.

Single Category Filing - You cannot use electronic submission to file a return using single category filing at this time. You must submit returns using this filing option through regular postal mail.

Payment Type and Business Tax Renewal Submittal Selection (for both electronically and manually completed forms):

There are several payment and submittal options available:

  1. Electronic Funds Transfer (ACH) and electronic/mail filing: If your tax liability is $50,000 or more, you must remit your payment to the City by ACH through your bank. You must pre-register no later than February 14th in order to make an ACH. Visit our Electronic Funds Transfer Payments (ACH) FAQ page for more information. Even if you submit your payment by ACH you must complete and forward this renewal form to make sure that your payment is properly credited to your account. Print one set of forms for your records, then print a second set to fax to (213) 368-7017 on the same day that your ACH payment is processed (ACH Settlement Date).
     
  2. Credit Card and Electronic Filing: Enter required payment information, and then press the Submit Payment button.
     
  3. Check and Mailing: Print two sets of the forms, one for your records and a second set to mail. Send your completed Annual Tax Renewal Form with your check to the City of Los Angeles at the address shown on the form. For Personal checks, please note the following: In the event that your check is returned for insufficient or uncollected funds, we may electronically debit your account for the principal amount of the check. We may also generate a draft or electronically debit your account for the service fee amount as allowed by law. Pursuant to California Civil Code 1719 you may be subject to a $25 fee for every returned check.
     
  4. No Tax Due: In cases where the tax due is zero, you are still required to file a Renewal Form. In the event you do not file a Renewal Form by February 28, your account will be considered delinquent and the business tax may be due. You may submit this renewal form either electronically or by mail to the City of Los Angeles at the address shown on the form.