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Section Four: Business, Professional and Occupational License A. Introduction The Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) is required of almost all businesses operating in or from Prince William County. Businesses with prior year gross receipts greater than $100,000, or new businesses that expect annual gross receipts in excess of $100,000, are required to file and obtain a license. Itinerant merchants and peddlers must file and obtain a business license prior to any sales. All contractors who do work in Prince William County, even if the aggregate of all contract amounts are expected to be less than $100,000, are required to file and obtain a business license. Individuals engaged in a home-based businessor who are self-employed must file and obtain a license if their prior year gross receipts exceed $100,000. Businesses with gross receipts of less than $100,000 per year are generally exempt from obtaining the business license. The business license fee depends on the BPOL tax rate for the business' particular category. Existing businesses must reapply/pay for their license each year by March 1st. New businesses must make an estimate of gross receipts and file an application within 30 days of beginning their business. Here are your local Accountant resources: For more information on business licenses, contact: Tax
Administration Division at (703) 792-6710 The following actions must be taken before a Prince William County business license is issued: B. Register a Trade Name or General Partnership - General Partnership and trade names must be registered with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Circuit
Court/Public Service Division C. Register a Corporation or Limited Partnership - All corporations, foreign or domestic, and limited partnerships conducting business in Virginia must register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). To become incorporated in Virginia, an organization must file trade names, DBA's, Articles of Incorporation and Amendments with the SCC. State
Corporation Commission D. Complying with Zoning and Building Requirements to Obtain a Certificate of Final Occupancy - Zoning ordinances allow businesses of various kinds to be located in some areas of the County but not in others. Building codes regulate new construction, major renovations or change in use-group in an existing building. Zoning and building clearances are required of all businesses. If you work out of your residence, you must obtain a Home Occupancy Permit. Offices
of Zoning and Building Permits
YOU MUST APPLY FOR A LICENSE IF
WHAT TO BRING
DUE DATE AND LATE PENALTY License applications must be filed by March 1st of each year or within 30 days of the business start date. The County imposes a 10% penalty of the fee if paid late. Also, a 10% interest charge per annum begins accruing on the first day of the month following the due date. SEPARATE LICENSES are required for each place of business. If you have two or more businesses or professions carried on at the same place, you may elect to obtain one license for all such businesses and professions under certain conditions. Where more than one tax rate is involved, however, each licensable activity will require licensure if gross receipts add up to $100,000 or more. Contact Tax Administration at (703) 792-6710 for additional information. EXEMPTION STATUS is given to the following classes: Farmers, Insurance Companies, Newspapers, Non-Profit businesses, Banks, Peddlers who grow their own products, TV and Radio, Manufacturers selling at wholesale, and Renting by owners of commercial or residential property. Businesses located in the towns of Dumfries, Quantico, Occoquan, or Haymarket or the cities of Manassas or Manassas Park, should contact these localities to determine business license liability. Those businesses located in Prince William County on January 1st of any year must also file a "Return of Tangible Business Property" no later than April 15, even if a business license may not be required. All machinery, furniture and fixtures that are used in the business must be reported to the County for business personal property tax purposes. F. Information for Contractors - All contractors who bid on or undertake single jobs of $1,000 or more must register with the State Board of Contractors. Class A - $70,001 or more. Class B - $7,501 to $70,000. Class C - $1,000 to $7,500 State
Board of Contractors G. Special Trade Contractors - To determine if a special trade contractor's license is required, contact: Public
Works Department H. Worker's Compensation - Any employer who has three or more employees is required to furnish Worker's Compensation Insurance at no cost to the employees. The insurance may be purchased through private insurance companies or the employer can apply to the Worker's Compensation Commission to be self-insured. Virginia
Worker's Compensation Commission I. Federal Taxes - For information regarding any federal tax, contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-829-1040 or http://www.irs.gov. Employers are required to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). To apply for the number, file Federal form SS-4, which can be obtained from any office of the IRS. Sole proprietors must obtain an FEIN if they pay wages to one or more employees or if they file an excise tax return. J. State Sales Taxes - For information regarding state sales tax, contact the Virginia Sales & Use Tax Office at (703) 359-6715 or visit their web site http://www.tax.state.va.us/index.cfm K. Food Establishments - The Tax Administration Division cannot issue a food establishment license until an Environmental Health permit is obtained. Environmental
Health L. Alcoholic Beverage Importation and Sale - The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control exercises a monopoly over the importation and sale of alcoholic beverages other than beer and wine. Licenses are issued for the manufacturer of liquors, the wholesaling of beer or wine, the sale of beer or wine, and the sale at retail spirits by the drink. Virginia
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control M. Peddlers and Itinerant Vendors - Call Prince William County Police Department, 9319 Mosby Street, Manassas, VA, at (703) 792-6552 N. Pawn Shop Owners and Dealers of Special Metals and Gems - Call Prince William County Police Department, 15949 Donald Curtis Dr, Woodbridge, VA, (703) 792-6558 O. Professional
Registration License - Call the Department of Commerce at (804) 367-8500,
http://www.state.va.us/dpor/indexie.html This is the end of Section Four: Business, Professional and Occupational License. Please
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