Skip Navigation and go to Main Content
JCC Home page JCC Home Page

Contact Information:

 
Commissioner of the Revenue
101-B Mounts Bay Rd.

Williamsburg, VA 23185

or

Mailing Address:

P. O. Box 283
Williamsburg, VA 23187-0283

Directions - Directory


P: 757-253-6695
F: 757-253-6733

 

commissioner.revenue@
jamescitycountyva.gov

 

Hours of Operation

 

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday

 

 

State Agencies

Federal Agencies JCC Links
Home » Commissioner of the Revenue » Business License and Business Fees
Site Tools
A to Z - index of pages Click to change text size
Print this page Share this page

 

 

 

 

 

Business License and Business Fees

 

 

 

Guidelines for application of Business License

  1. Application for business, professional and occupational license
  2. Certificate for business under assumed name
  3. Application for home occupation
  4. Proof of citizenship if you are a sole proprietor/partner (must bring in person)

    If you are using your home in any capacity, fill out the application for home occupation completely and leave with our office.

    If you are going to use a trade name, the certificate of doing business under an assumed name must be typed and filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court located on the 1st floor of the Williamsburg-James City County Courthouse (Cost $15.00). Please note that your signature must be notarized before filing with the Clerk. Notary services are available at Williamsburg - James City County Sheriff's Office located on the 3rd floor of the Courthouse.

  5. As of January 2006, first-time business applicants with total gross receipts less than $4,000 are assessed a fee of $30.00.
  6. Renewals with gross receipts less than $4,000 are no charge.
  7. Businesses with gross receipts of $4,000 up to $49,999 are assessed a fee of $30.
  8. Businesses with gross receipts of $50,000 up to $99,999 are assessed a fee of $50.
  9. Businesses with gross receipts of $100,000 and over are assessed at the following rates:

    Professional Services - $.58/$100 - Gross receipts

    Other Services - .36/$100 - Gross receipts

    Retail Sales - .20/$100 - Gross receipts

    Contractors - .16/$100 - Gross receipts

    Wholesale Sales - .05/$100 - Gross receipts

 

New Business Information:

For a new business, your initial license is based upon an Estimate of gross receipts for the first calendar year. The County Code requires that the original estimate be as close to the anticipated gross or contract price as possible. However, a minimum tax of $30.00 will apply to any new license.

 

At the end of your first calendar year in business, during license renewal time, your actual gross receipts will be compared to your estimated gross receipts reported when you purchased the license.

 

If you estimated too low, you will be required to pay the difference between the estimate and the actual gross receipts.

 

If you estimated too high, you will receive a credit towards current year's taxes.

 

Please Note: If your gross receipts from the previous year were $4,000 or less, your new license will be issued at no charge.

 

Once you have been in business for a full calendar year, your license tax will always be calculated on the previous year's gross receipts.

 

All licenses expire on December 31 of each calendar year.

 

Our office mails Business License Renewals annually. If you have not received your form by January 15, please contact our office at 757- 253-6698. The form must be returned by March 1, even if gross receipts are zero.

 

If you are no longer in business, please let our office know so the proper adjustments to our records can be made.

 

A penalty of 10 percent will be added to the license tax for later filed returns. Taxes paid after April 5 will include a 10 percent penalty plus interest at an annual rate of 10 percent.

 

For more information: