On August 25th, 2014, the City of Woodstock adopted changes to the Ordinance and Fee Schedule in regards to the calculation of taxes for Standard Occupation License. These taxes will now be a percentage of the total gross receipts of the business. View the changes to the ordinances and the changes to the Fee Schedule in Section 2.4 (page 11).
Gross Receipts Fee Calculator - This is an excel spreadsheet that can assist you in determining your fee. If you do not have access to Excel, you may call our office at 770-592-6054 or come by and we can assist you in that calculation.
Business Class List - This is a complete list of all business class numbers. Using the first 4 digits of your NAICS code, you can determine the appropriate business class number necessary for proper fee calculation.
**Please be prepared to submit proof of gross receipts for proper tax calculation fee amount. All businesses that apply for a new business license will need to estimate their gross receipts for a year period for proper tax calculation. ** (Acceptable documentation: Tax returns showing line item 1c, Profit & Loss Report, company generated gross receipt report or a letter from the company CPA)
How do I know if I need a business license?
All business locations, commercial or home, within the city limits of Woodstock, are required to apply for and obtain a City of Woodstock Business License. Check the location of your business. Enter the address in the "Street Address" section and hit Enter. If the "District" on the next page is listed as "City of Woodstock 007", you are located within the City limits.
How do I obtain a business license?
First, you will need to submit an application to our office. Access the application for commercial based businesses. The application for home based businesses can be found here. These applications give a good layout of the information and documentation we require for license approval. Certain specialty licenses may be required in addition to the standard business license (ie. Massage Establishment Licenses, Vehicle For Hire Licenses). Once the application is filled out and all necessary documentation is included you may bring it into our office or by email at businesslicense@woodstockga.gov.
Where can I find my NAICS code?
If you are applying for your business license for the first time, you can visit www.naics.com/search/ to find one that best applies to your business. If you already have a business license, it is located on the third line of the left hand side of the license. See the image below for the location.
How can I pay for the license?
Payment for the license may be submitted in person by check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or cash. If you choose to email your renewal or new application you must include the credit card authorization form.
How / When do I renew my business license?
Business Licenses expire on December 31st of each year. In October, we will send out renewal letters with all information required for renewal. The renewal application can be filled out and submitted with payment via email, mail, or in person in our office. The renewal forms are located on this website under Departments/Business License/Forms.
How do I calculate my renewal tax?
The necessary tax is dependent on the type of license you hold. The breakdown of taxes are as follows:
• Home Occupation License - $60.00
• Professional License - $300.00 per practitioner per location
• Insurance Agency - $75.00
• Standard Occupation License - This tax is based on the gross receipt amount of the business. You will need to determine your business class number from Table 2.4.1A on the City of Woodstock Fee Schedule Section 2.4. After determining your business class number, you will use the appropriate factor from Table 2.4.1B. In addition to this, there will be a final multiplier determined by the gross receipt bracket on Table 2.4.1C. Once you have all of these numbers for your business, follow the example below for proper calculation.
Ex: Business A has NAICS code 453998 and a Gross Receipt amount of $350,000.00. Business A is placed into Class 1 according to Table 2.4.1A and will therefore use a factor of .00030 according to Table 2.4.1B. Business A will assess a final multiplier of 1.05 according to Table 2.4.1C. This amount is added to the administration fee of $30.00. The occupational tax due is:
($350,000.00 x .00030) x 1.05 = $110.25 + $30.00 = $140.25
***For your convenience, you may also use the Gross Receipts Calculator at the top of this page.***
