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OCCUPATION TAX INFORMATION
(also known as Business License)
You may visit the Tax Coordinator's office at the City of Thomasville Administration building located at 111 Victoria Place, Thomasville, Georgia to complete the required forms.
For additional information that you may need, directions to the office or assistance in completing your application, contact Melissa Creel, Tax Coordinator at ( 229) 227-4170 or by e-mail at melissac@thomasville.org.
Business owners who operate retail or service type businesses in the City of Thomasville are required to pay occupation tax based on the classification of business and estimated annual gross receipts. Industrial or manufacturing businesses pay based on number of employees Professionals pay $400.00 per year or they may elect to pay based on annual gross receipts. This tax is pro-rated based on the number of months open the first year and adjusted each year thereafter as the actual gross increases or decreases. Occupation tax is due and payable on or before April 15th of each year after the initial opening. Renewal notices are mailed in January.
The Planning & Zoning Department must check the zoning of the property to be sure the type of business can be operated at the location you have chosen. A certificate of occupancy inspection, if required, will be scheduled by the Building Inspection Department. You may contact both departments at (229) 227-6982 or come by the office located at 415 West Jackson Street.
Retail business owners in the Downtown Improvement District are required to pay surtax equal to the occupation tax, excluding the first year of business. Real estate property owners are also charged surtax equal to one-half of the business owner’s surtax. This surtax is used to improve the downtown area and to promote business through events coordinated by the Main Street Office. Arline Hampton is the Main Street/Tourism Director and you may contact her or her staff at (229) 227-7020 for additional information concerning the surtax or the downtown events or you may refer to section 18-95A of the City Code.
Hotels, motels and bed & breakfast establishments are required to pay excise tax at the rate of 5% of the monthly rent which is collected from the occupants. This tax is due to the City of Thomasville on or before the 20th of the month for the preceding month. Please see section 18-115A of the city code for more detailed information.
Food sales establishments, excluding restaurants, should contact the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture for license per Section 26-2-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Please call the Department of Agriculture at (229) 430-4245 for information.
Restaurants or caterers are required to obtain a Food Service Permit from the local health department located at 440 Smith Avenue, phone (229) 226-4241 extension 5.
Sales cannot be conducted from parking lots or vacant lots in accordance with section 18-177 of the City Code. Mobile units are not allowed for vending purposes in accordance with section 11-12 & 18-176 of the City Code.
To obtain a federal tax number or sales tax number and to register your business name, call the State of Georgia Sales & Use Tax Division at (229) 430-4241.
Business owners are required to pay personal property tax based on the value of the commercial furniture, fixtures, equipment and inventory used in the business. Please contact Travis Gibbs at the Thomas County Tax Assessor’s Office for more information and to register your business for the following tax year, phone (229) 225-4133.
Once the occupation tax return is completed and returned the tax will be calculated and a statement mailed with payment due within 30 days. This process can be completed in person, if preferred, at the City Administration Building located at 111 Victoria Place. For additional information, please call (229) 227-3250 or (229) 227-7000.
Related Forms
Industrial or Manufacturing Business