Retail, Annual, and Financial Occupational Tax Certificate renewals are due January 1st each year. Renewal packets are automatically mailed by the City during the first week in January. Businesses are allowed to renew through April 15th with no penalty or interest. The renewals are mailed in early January to the mailing address on file as provided by the business. These packets contain the actual tax return for the business which must be completed, notarized, and submitted for renewal. If lost or misplaced, there will be a $10 fee for duplication of the form, since the City does not keep copies on file. Fees are based on prior year Gross Receipts (PDF) of the business, therefore a copy of the tax return (or P and L, Schedule C, etc.) must be submitted with the renewal application. Substantial penalties, beginning at 11.5%, result when renewal forms are received by the City after April 15th. Postmark dates are accepted by the City. No penalties will be waived for late filing of the renewal by a business.

The renewal packet includes a checklist of the documents required for the renewal of the certificate. Please make sure all forms are completed and notarized (if required) prior to submission. Incomplete renewals cannot be processed. Due to eVerify requirements, all businesses must submit the following completed and notarized forms with their renewal. The forms are also included in the renewal packets. See below for requirements as to who will sign and submit each form.

A legible copy of the driver's license, or other forms of ID listed on the form, must accompany each Affidavit Verifying Status form for the individual signing each form.

The method of payment calculation for occupational taxes is the same as in the past; occupational taxes are based on gross receipts times a multiple which corresponds to the profitability ratio of your business, plus a $25 administrative fee. Gross receipts are those generated and reported for tax purposes. If your tax return does not represent a full year of operations, then the gross receipts reported shall be calculated based on the number of actual months in operation and spread over a full year. Additionally, if you owe delinquent property taxes or any other revenue to the City, your Occupational Tax Certificate will not be renewed until those amounts are paid in full.

If you are classified as a professional, you have the right to choose a flat fee of $400 plus the $25 administrative fee for each professional employed by the business, or you may pay based on total gross receipts. In addition, professionals must enclose a copy of their State Registration Card with the tax return for processing by the City. Professionals are strictly defined as Lawyers, Physicians, Osteopaths, Optometrist, Chiropractors, Dentists, Psychologists, Veterinarians, Landscape Architects, Land Surveyors, Physiotherapists, Public Accountants, Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Civil, Mechanical, Hydraulic or Electrical Engineers, Architects, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, and Professional Counselors only. No other businesses are eligible for this option.

Insurance Company renewals are due by January 1st each year, per City Ordinance. The annual flat fee is $100 per location. Additionally, there is a gross premiums tax imposed on life insurers in the amount of 1% of the gross direct premiums received during the preceding calendar year. All other insurers will pay an additional 2.5% of the gross direct premiums received during the preceding calendar year. These additional fees are collected by the Georgia Department of Revenue and disbursed to the governments based on population, per State Law.

For more information concerning Occupational Taxes in the City of Newnan, please see the City of Newnan's Code of Ordinances or contact the City's Licensing Office.