Formerly called 'Occupational License'
This section provides basic information on obtaining or searching for a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt. To contact our office for questions concerning Business Tax Receipts click on the button below to send an email:
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Local business tax receipts are required for most businesses and are issued by counties and cities. Per County Ordinance 102-28: The county hereby levies a business tax for the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, business location, profession or occupation within the county authorized pursuant to F.S. ch. 205
Per County Ordinance other department’s approval is required before the Brevard County Business Tax Receipt can be issued. A business located in an unincorporated area of the county may need zoning use permit, Building Occupancy Review and/or Environmental Health Septic review. If your business is located within an incorporated municipality (city limits), a City Business Tax receipt must be procured before a Brevard County tax receipt can be issued.
Phone numbers of the departments that you can contact for information:
If the business name on the business tax receipt is other than the legal name of the owner(s), it must be registered or re-registered as a fictitious name with Division of Corporations. Division of Corporations can be reached at 850-245-6058 or www.sunbiz.org.
To qualify for a Business Tax Receipt, you must furnish the following information depending on where the business is located. Listed below are the three types of Business Tax Receipt applications. Please download the application that is applicable to your business. In order to download an application, you will need Adobe Reader installed on your PC. If you do not have Adobe Reader, you can install it for free.
Business located in a Residential Unincorporated Area of the County (Home Locations)
Business Located in a Commercial Unincorporated Area of the County
Business Located in an Incorporated Municipalities (City Limits)
Q. How much does a Business Tax Receipt cost?
A. $37.00. (May also require an additional fee for Zoning Use permit and/or Hazardous Waste, depending on the type of business and the location.)
Note: Any application for a Business Tax Receipt for an industrial or commercial business located in the unincorporated areas of Brevard County will be subject to a Building Occupancy Review and Building Occupancy Septic Review. Additional fees may be necessary for the review.
Q. When do I need a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt?
A. Brevard County Business Tax Receipts are issued pursuant to Chapter 102, Article II, Brevard County Code, as authorized by Chapter 205, Florida Statutes.
Any person (legal entity) engaged in (or managing) any business in the incorporated or unincorporated areas of Brevard County defined in the above law requires a Business Tax Receipt. A Receipt is required for each location conducting business and for each person subject to professional classifications.
Q. How do I apply for a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt?
A. Click one of the above links depending on your business location. Complete the applications and submit to the Tax Collector’s Office. To minimize delays, contact the Tax Collector's Office for pre-requisites applicable to your classification and location. A Tax Receipt will be issued upon approval of the application and presentation of required prerequisites and payments of applicable fees.
Q. What if I change the location of my business?
A. A Tax Receipt may be transferred upon application and fee. Prerequisites for new location must be satisfied (i.e. Building Occupancy, Zoning, City Receipt, Health Inspection). If a tax receipt is not transferred within 30 days, continuing to do business is subject to the same penalties as doing business without a Tax Receipt, as well as payment of the full amount due for each classification.
Q. Upon sale of a business, can a tax receipt transferable to the new owner?
A. Except for individual professional and exempt tax receipts, a tax receipt may be transferred to a new owner upon application, copy of bill of sale and payment of fee. Any regulatory prerequisites must be met by the new owner. Application for Transfer should be within 30 days.
Q. Are there exemptions from Business Tax Receipt?
A. There are a few exemptions and exceptions to the actual issuance of a tax receipt, primarily relating to agriculture.
There are Fee Exemptions (tax receipt and prerequisites still applicable) for disabled veterans (up to $50); full exemption for 65 years or older ($1,000 less in capital & only one employee), widows with dependent children, handicapped or blind. The applicant for the exemption must be conducting the actual business, and not an "absentee owner."
Q. How long does it take to get a tax receipt?
A. Some Business Tax Receipts can be issued the same day you come to the office. However, regulated activities may require inspections or additional information. Therefore, some tax receipts may take a 1-2 weeks or longer to meet issuance requirements
Q. What should I do if I go out of business, or close one of several tax receipt locations?
A. Notify the Tax Collector's Office in writing, with a copy of the tax receipt to be inactivated. If advertising or conducting a "Going Out of Business" sale, a permit should be obtained from the Tax Collector. For additional information on this contact the Tax Collector' Office at 321-264-6910 or 321-633-2199 ext. 46910.
Any individual or business that wishes to conduct or advertise a "Fire Sale" or "Going Out of Business Sale", or any liquidation sale, (Any sale the public would believe, that upon disposal of all stock of goods on hand, the business will cease and be discontinued) is required by the State of Florida (Florida Statute 559.20) to apply, and purchase a Going Out of Business Permit.
Going Out of Business/Fire Sale applications are available at the Tax Collector's Titusville office only. Included with the application shall be a copy of the proposed advertising, the current county business tax receipt, (if applicable, the city tax receipt) and a copy of the current inventory, listing goods to be sold. The fee required is $50.00.
Prior to the issuance of the permit, all tangible personal property, and real estate taxes (if applicable) must be paid. The permit is valid for a period of not more than 60 consecutive days, including Sunday, and any legal holiday, following the issuance thereof.
All Business Tax Receipts shall be sold beginning on July 1 of each year; are due and payable on or before September 30 of each year, and expire on September 30 of the succeeding year.
