Q: I received a Business Tax Renewal form from the Office of Finance that says to not report to the Public Counters due to COVID-19 Closures. I need help understanding how to comply. What are my options?
A: With reduced staff and public counter closures, Finance is strongly encouraging businesses to file early and utilize our contactless options, including online or mail in filing by the due date of February 28, 2023. We understand that this may not be possible for all filers.
If an in-person visit is necessary, please check our website for all the latest schedules. The City Hall Public Counter and Van Nuys Public Counter can provide service on an abbreviated schedule. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Our West LA Office is closed until further notice.
Customers that visit the public counter (indoor) will need to do the following prior to being allowed inside:
A drop-off box is available for Small Business Exemptions filers with COMPLETED FORMS.
A drop-off box is available for Small Business Exemptions filers with COMPLETED FORMS
Q: I was unable to schedule a Public Counter Appointment online or via text. What can I do?
A: You may call our Contact Center at (844) 663-4411 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or email us at Finance.CustomerService@lacity.org
Q: I called and was told that there are 486 calls ahead of me. I left a message, but no one has gotten back to me.
A: Finance returns every call in the order that they were received – but it might take as long as one day (depending on the actual call volume) to return all the calls ahead of yours – so please don’t wait until the last minute to call.
You may also opt to use our Schedule Your Callback feature – where you can set a callback appointment. This is an optional feature when you call.
Q: I emailed the Office of Finance but haven’t yet received a response. What should I do?
A: First, check your spam filter to make sure the response email hasn’t landed there. As with calls, our email runs a backlog – especially during Business Tax Renewals. Though all emails are returned, it may take longer that you had allotted.
We also have a chat feature that can be utilized during business hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The chat feature can be found by going to our webpage at finance.lacity.org, Online Services page, in the Online Bill Payment section. https://latax.lacity.org/billpay/index
Q: I prefer to meet with someone in person but have limited options. What can I do?
A: You can request for a video appointment through our “Virtual Public Counter”. You will be able to speak with one of our team members virtually through “Google Meet”. An email address is required and you will need access to Google Meet service. To obtain an appointment, go to Virtual Public Counter Video Appointment Link
Q: How do I know if I qualify for a Small Business Exemption?
A: Please visit our website for additional information and instructions at https://finance.lacity.org/small-business-exemption-faq
Q: How do I fill out the business tax renewal form?
A: Go to this link for step by step instructions to renew your business tax renewal form https://finance.lacity.org/business-tax-renewal-instructions