Business Registration Renewal Instructions 2020

All persons doing business in San Francisco must have a current business registration.

The business registration is renewed annually and valid from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The renewal and payment must be submitted on or before May 31, 2019.

Failure to meet this deadline will result in penalties, interest, and fees.

Business certificates will be mailed out the end of June to be posted by July 1, 2019, the start of the fiscal year.

Go to 2020 Business Registration Renewal and login using the following information to renew your business registration:

  • Your seven (7) digit Business Account Number
  • The last four (4) digits of your Tax Identification Number
  • Your eight (8) character Online PIN mailed to you by our Office

*If you do not have your eight (8) character Online PIN, you may request your PIN here. Processing time may take up to 3-5 business days. You will be unable to renew online without your PIN.

Taxpayers who previously filed an Annual Business Tax Return for 2018 will automatically receive a renewal bill via U.S. Mail that will direct them to the Payment Portal to pay.  If you do not agree with the billed registration fee, you must amend your Annual Business Tax Return for 2018 to update the registration fee.

Use the online form to renew your San Francisco business registration. If you are no longer in business, go to Business Account Update and close your account.

The renewal filing and payment must be submitted on or before May 31, 2019. Failure to meet this deadline will result in penalties, interest and fees.

You will need the following information to complete the renewal and to calculate the business registration fee:

  • Your 2018 taxable San Francisco gross receipts
  • The business activities that describe your business
  • The Average number of employees per week

Click “Save & Continue” to proceed to the next section.

To help keep your account current, it’s important to notify our office of mailing address changes. Failure to receive notices of filings and payment requirements does not constitute grounds for a penalty waiver.

If our office was notified by the United States Postal Service that your mailing address is "Undeliverable", you will have the opportunity to update the business mailing address and contact information before renewing the business registration.

Select all applicable business activities in which you engaged in calendar year 2018, regardless of the amount of gross receipts that business activity generated. Most activities are categorized by their 2012 North American Classification System (NAICS) code.

List of San Francisco business activities with (NAICS Codes).

If you were engaged in any business activities not listed on this page, check the box next to line 20, Activity Not Listed Above, and describe the activity or activities in the field that appears.

(For Business Activity: Accommodations)

*(Businesses that select “Accommodations” as their business activity or businesses that are identified as a Short Term Residential Rental Host with our office will see the following questions.)

A Short Term Residential Rental (“Host”) is a business that receives rent in exchange for providing short-term (less than 30 days) accommodations in a residential structure.

Are you a Short Term Residential Rental Host? Select “Yes.” Otherwise, select “No.” 

Enter the start date for your Short Term Residential Rental Host business.

Enter the San Francisco rental location address.

Some Hosts receive rent payments through a website company, while others receive payment directly from their guest.

Airbnb, HostWell and misterb&b are designated by the Tax Collector to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax (“TOT”) on behalf of Hosts using their online platforms.

Select how rent is received for your business, then select the company you work with if applicable.

Answer “Yes” or “No” if your business has San Francisco Payroll Expense. Article 12-A of our tax code provides rules for determining San Francisco Payroll Expense.

Does this business receive rental income from four or more residential units? Answer “Yes” or “No”

Short Term Residential Rental Hosts are Exempt from the Business Registration Fee and are not required to enter their 2018 taxable San Francisco Gross Receipts if they meet the following criteria:

  • Your only business activity is Accommodations (Short Term Residential Rental Host).
  • You do not have any payroll expense, i.e., you do not have any employees.
  • You only receive rental income from the operation of three or fewer residential units.

(For Business Activity: Accommodations)

(Businesses that identify as a Short Term Residential Rental Host with our office will see the following questions.)

You previously identified as a Short Term Residential Renal Host with our office. Does your business still include a Shot Term Residential Rental ("Host") business? A Short Term Residential Rental (“Host”) is a business that receives rent in exchange for providing short-term (less than 30 days) accommodations in a residential structure.

Answer “Yes” or “No” if your business still includes a Short Term Residential Rental.

Note: If you’re no longer a “Host”, the form will ask you to enter an end date for your “Host” business.

Do you have San Francisco Payroll Expense for this business? Answer “Yes” or “No”. Article 12-A of our tax code provides rules for determining San Francisco Payroll Expense.

Does this business receive rental income from four or more residential units? Answer “Yes” or “No”

Short Term Residential Rental Hosts are Exempt from the Business Registration Fee and are not required to enter their 2018 taxable San Francisco Gross Receipts if they meet the following criteria:

  • Your only business activity is Accommodations (Short Term Residential Rental Host).
  • You do not have any payroll expense, i.e., you do not have any employees.
  • You only receive rental income from the operation of three or fewer residential units.

Enter your taxable San Francisco gross receipts for tax year 2018.

Answer “Yes” or “No” if all business activities are within San Francisco.

If All Business Activities in San Francisco

Enter your total 2018 gross receipts if all gross receipts were generated from business activities within San Francisco.

Residential landlords receiving gross receipts from rent controlled properties may exclude their total gross receipts amount by fifty percent (50%).

If Business Activities are both Inside and Outside San Francisco

If your total gross receipts from business activities inside and outside of San Francisco exceeded $100,000 in 2018, use the following to calculate your taxable San Francisco gross receipts:

  1. Find your San Francisco Business Activity then;
  2. Use the Business Activity Gross Receipts Worksheet(s)

If your total gross receipts from business activities inside and outside of San Francisco was less than $100,000 in 2018, you are eligible for the minimum business registration fee.

Business Personal Property

If your business had taxable business personal property in San Francisco in tax year 2018, select “Yes.” Otherwise, select “No.” Visit the Office of the Assessor-Recorder for information on Business Personal Property.

Input your average number of weekly employees for your entire business, including those employed outside of San Francisco in calendar year 2018. This is a survey question that does not affect your fee.

Exempt from Registration Fee

Businesses recognized by the IRS as exempt from income taxation may be exempt from paying registration fee.

Any organization or person documenting the following shall not be required to pay registration fee unless the organization is also engaged within the City in an unrelated trade or business within the meaning of Article 12-A or Article 12-A-1:

  1. Any organization having a formally recognized exemption from income taxation pursuant to Section 501(c), 501(d) or 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRS) of 1986, as amended.
  2. As qualified by Sections 502, 503, 504 and 508 (IRS) of 1986, as amended.
  3. A person receiving rental income in connections with the operation of a cooperative housing corporation, as defined in Section 216(b) (IRS) of 1986, as amended; one residential structure consisting of fewer than four units; or one residential condominium.
  4. A business to the extent that, and only so long as, federal or state law prohibits the imposition of the registration fee upon such business.

If you are exempt from the Business Registration Fee, select “Yes.”

You will be required to upload and provide supporting documentation. Our office will review your documentation to verify tax-exempt status. We will contact you with instructions if the exemption is denied.

Click “Calculate Obligation”.

Line A: 2018 Taxable San Francisco Gross Receipts
Provides the taxable San Francisco gross receipt amount that was entered on the previous screen.

Line B: Registration Renewal Fee
Displays the registration renewal fee based on the selected business activity and taxable San Francisco gross receipts. If the amount is zero, you have claimed an exemption or provided information that indicates your business is exempt from the registration fee.

Line C: State Fee
The State of California has imposed an additional state fee of $4 on the renewal of business licenses for purposes of increasing disability access and compliance with construction‐related accessibility requirements and developing educational resources for businesses to facilitate compliance with federal and state disability laws. For more information on SB 1186, visit http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Line D-F – Late Payment Penalty, Interest, and Administrative Fee
These lines display penalties, interest, and fees for late filings for renewals submitted after May 31, 2019.

Line G – Amount Due
The sum of lines B through F.

If you have claimed an exemption from the business registration fee the ”Amount Due” on Line G will be zero.

Click “Continue” to certify and submit the renewal.

Gross Receipts for Tax Year 2018

Schedule A

Schedule B

$0 to $100,000

$100

$83

$100,001 to $250,000

$167

$139

$250,001 to $500,000

$278

$222

$500,001 to $750,000

$556

$445

$750,001 to $1,000,000

$779

$668

$1,000,001 to $2,500,000

$334

$222

$2,500,001 to $7,500,000

$556

$445

$7,500,001 to $15,000,000

$1,670

$1,252

$15,000,001 to $25,000,000

$5,567

$4,175

$25,000,001 to $50,000,000

$13,918

$8,351

$50,000,001 to $100,000,000

$25,053

$16,702

$100,000,001 to $200,000,000

$33,404

$22,269

$200,000,001 and over

$38,971

$33,404

 

After reading the terms of the Taxpayer Statement, certify by entering the information requested below. Click “Submit”.

If you are an agent of the taxpayer authorized to sign the Renewal on the taxpayer’s behalf, you must have a valid executed Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney Declaration Form POA-1, along with instructions on how to use the form to grant an individual authority to file a Renewal on behalf of a taxpayer, is available.

After clicking “Submit” you will be shown the “Return Submitted” pop up screen. Only now is your renewal submitted.

Click “Continue” to email or download a copy of the renewal and review payment options.

Payment options allows you to enter the Business Tax Payment Portal, where you can print a payment coupon to pay via mail or pay online for free via e-check, or via credit card or debit card which have service fees.

You can also download and print a copy of your renewal as well as email a copy of the filing to an additional email address.

 

Unless exempt from the Registration Fee, all Business Registration Renewals must be submitted with a payment.

Look for and “Select to Pay” Obligation Type "Business Registration" for Tax Year/Period 2020/01.

Choose your payment method at the bottom of the screen.

To Pay Online by Credit Card / Debit Card/ Electronic Check: Electronic payments are made through our service provider Citybase. Please read the information on the AGREEMENT payment page about acceptable payment types. Citybase confirmation email only indicates a receipt of your payment information. It may take 5-10 business days for the payment to process and clear with your financial institution. Once payment is submitted the transaction cannot be canceled. Service fees may apply.

To Pay by Check: Make check Payable to “San Francisco Tax Collector.” Write the Business Account Number and Bill Number on your check. Include only the payment stub with your payment. Mail to: San Francisco Tax Collector, P.O. Box 7425, San Francisco, CA 94120-7425.

To Pay in Person at City Hall: You may pay in person during business hours (8am – 5pm, excluding holidays) at City Hall – Rm 140, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. Taxpayers who come to City Hall will experience long wait times during the renewal period.

To Pay by Electronic Transfer (Wire transfer through Federal Wire System or ACH): Contact Us to request wire instructions.

If a payment is not honored by a financial institution, for any reason, the tax payment is null and void. A $50 returned payment fee will be charged.

Need Further Assistance?

Visit our Help Center to submit a question.  Questions submitted before 7:00 pm will receive a response on the SAME DAY. Questions submitted after 7:00 pm will receive a response by the next business day.