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       City of Tacoma 
       Finance Department/Tax & License Division                                                Sent by                                  Date  
       747 Market Street, Room 212, Tacoma, WA 98402-3770
       (253) 591-5252 • www.cityoftacoma.org/taxandlicense                                      Contract Account  

                           Application for City of Tacoma Business License 
                                                  Title 6 of the Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC) as amended. 
                                           Save Time and Apply Online at FileLocal-wa.gov 
             Please review and complete all sections.  Applications will be returned or delayed if incomplete .
 TYPE OF OWNERSHIP              (CHOOSE ONLY ONE)

 Sole owner                       LLC                               Partnership                                                  Corporation

 Name of Owner, LLC, Partnership or Corporation,  
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 WA UBI#________________________ Federal EIN#_______________________WA Professional License_____________

 LIST SOLE OWNERS,  CORPORATE OFFICERS, LLC MEMBERS OR PARTNERS 

Name                                                                ___Title                                       Home phone #   
Home address                                                        ___City                                State_____      ____Zip 

Name                                                                ___Title                                       Home phone #   
Home address                                                        ___City                                 State ____________Zip________________

 OPENING DATE IN TACOMA   _____________                  Provide the first date of business at this location.  Businesses located outside the City of Tacoma should use the 
                                    MM/DD/YY             first date of operation in Tacoma.  If outside of Tacoma, see page 4 for information regarding business license 
                                                         exemption.     
Name of Business (dba)   
Describe in detail business activity; principal product sold or service provided  

Physical Location                                                       ____City ______________________State________Zip_____________ 
Mailing Address                                                         ____City                                                 State           Zip 
Business Phone ________________________________Cell Phone_____________________________________________________ 
    Address__________________________________________________________________________________________                                                                     

  Purchasing existing business?        Yes       No  
  Do you own or operate any of the following  mechanical devices?   Amusement:   Yes           No        Music:      Yes      No   Pool Table: Yes          No  
  Do you provide gambling activities?    Yes     No                        Do you charge for admission?              Yes      No  
  What do you anticipate your annual business worldwide gross income to be? (Worldwide gross is total income regardless of  location)  The 
  business license fee is determined based on anticipated total worldwide gross income. See page 3 to determine the license fee. 
 (Check One) 
   Over $250,000

   Less than $12,000 -  See non-reporting status details on page 4.
 Do you have employees?  Yes       No    If Yes, Number of employees working in City of Tacoma  
 Is your residence and the business located in the same dwelling?     Yes     No  
 Is your organization recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by the  Internal Revenue Service?            Yes          No  

OFFICE USE ONLY    TYPE OF ID:    WDL  WID  MIL  MAIL  OTHER                                     ID# 
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WORLDWIDE GROSS INCOME 
What do you anticipate your businesses annual worldwide gross income to be?(Worldwide gross is total income regardless of 
location)  The business license fee is based on anticipated total worldwide gross income. See page 3 to determine the license fee.  (                                     Check 
One) 

Over $250,000         Between $12,000 and $250,000 Less than $12,000 - Refer to non-reporting status details on page 4

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SURVEY

The City of Tacoma must inventory all commercial or industrial users of the City's storm and sanitary sewer systems in order to help our 
businesses protect the quality of our waterways and the wastewater treatment system. If your business is in the City of Tacoma, Fife 
Ruston or Fircrest, please answer the following question. For questions regarding this survey, please contact City of Tacoma's 
Environmental Service Science and Engineering Division at 253-591-5588.    Do you or will you discharge wastewater, other than 
domestic waste*, into the public wastewater system?       Yes                          No   *“Domestic wastewater” is defined as water carrying human wastes
including kitchen, bathroom, and laundry wastes that are typical of residential discharges 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE - PAID LEAVE 
Per Title 18 of the Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC), the City requires all employers to provide Paid Sick Leave to all employees that work at 
least 80 hours in any benefit year within the city limits.  Visit cityoftacoma.org/employmentstandards for more information. Please review 
and check the appropriate box below. 

☐I certify that I comply with the requirements of TMC Title 18.  I have employees that work in the City of Tacoma at least 80 hours in a
benefit year and I give them at least 1 hour of Paid Sick Leave for every 40 hours they work as set forth in Title 18.

☐ I am not familiar with the requirements of Title 18.  I will visit the City website or call 253-591-5306 to learn more about Tacoma's Paid
Sick Leave requirements to ensure my business is in compliance.

☐ I do not have employees or I do not have employees that work 80+ hours in a benefit year in Tacoma.

RENTAL PROPERTY - WITHIN CITY LIMITS 

Do you own real estate that you rent or lease inside Tacoma?                            Yes        No     If yes, complete the rental address information: 
Rental Address_____________________________________________________________________________# of units________________ 
Dwelling Type:     Commercial                                   Single Family                    Multi Family
Monthly Rental Income $ _____________Local Agent Name_________________________________________________Phone___________________ 

           If you have more rental properties in the City of Tacoma, please attach additional rental address information to application. 
 
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - You are not required to answer these questions, however your participation is encouraged to help the City of
Tacoma better understand the community we serve. 
1. What is the racial/ethnicity identity of the business owner(s) with majority-stake (at least 51% of ownership)? Check all that apply.

☐American Indian or Alaska Native                            ☐Asian    ☐Black or African American                 ☐Hispanic/ Latino/ Spanish Origin
☐Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander                   ☐White                    Other
2. Is the business woman-owned?  To be considered a women-owned business, the business must be held with majority-stake (at least 51%) of
ownership by a woman or collectively by women. Yes  No

SIGNATURE - Must be signed by sole proprietor or spouse, member, partner or corporate officer 
The undersigned acknowledges that this business will operate consistent with zoning standards, meet fire and building code requirements,is governed by the Tacoma 
Municipal Code, and is responsible for becoming familiar with the code and abiding by its requirements.  See page 3 and 4 for details and filing instructions. The 
undersigned hereby certifies under penalties of perjury that the information included here is correct to the  best of his/her knowledge and belief. 
Signed by_______________________________________________                                   ______________________________________________________ 
               (Sole proprietor, partner, officer or member)                                        Signature of preparer if other than owner, partner, officer or member 
Title___________________________________________________________________________________Date____________________________________________________________________________ 
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 BUSINESS LICENSING INFORMATION 
                                                                                                                                                 
   If your business engages in any of the following activities, additional license(s) may be required.  For more information, visit our webpage 
   at cityoftacoma.org/taxandlicense. 
    
   6B.30 Adult Entertainment                                           6B.140 Transient Accommodations 
  6B.40 Alarm Devices                                                 6B.145 Live/Work and Work/Live 
  6B.70 Entertainment/Dancing - Alcohol Served                        6B.150 Oil and Gas Tank Vehicles 
  6B.80 Entertainment/Dancing -No Alcohol Served                      6B.160 Pawnbrokers, Secondhand Dealers & 
    &  Teenage Dance                                                     Garage Sales 
  6B.90 Fire Alarms & Fire Suppression Systems                        6B.170 Sales - Door-to-Door Soliciting 
  6B.110 Garages, Fuel Stations & Marine Repair                       6B.175 Sales - Food Truck Vendors 
    Facilities 
                                                                        6B.180 Sales - Sidewalk Vendors 
  6B.125 Hazardous Materials 
                                                                        6B.220 For-Hire Regulations 
  6B.130 Home Occupations 
                                                                          
  FILING INSTRUCTIONS                                                                                                                            
 New license applications should be applied for at least 30 days prior to starting business in Tacoma to ensure any regulated activities are 
 approved by the City. Mere filing of an application shall not give the applicant the right to engage in business activity. For questions email 
 licenseinfo@cityoftacoma.org or call 253-591-5252. 
  
     • Mail your application with the license fee to:  
        
       City of Tacoma 
       Tax & License Division  
       747 Market St, Room 212  
       Tacoma WA 98402-3770 
  
     • Make checks payable to City of Tacoma 
                                                                                                                                                 
  Tacoma's business license fees are determined based on anticipated annual worldwide gross income from business activities, regardless 
  of location.  License fees are not adjusted based on actual income. Review the chart below to determine the correct license fee to 
  pay. 
 
                                                    Anticipated Gross Income                                     Fee 
 
                    Greater than $250,000                                                                        $250 
                                                                                                             
                    Between $12,000 - $250,000 
                                                                                                                 $110 
                    Less than $12,000                                                                            $25 
                    501(C)3 Organizations - Fee is not determined on anticipated gross income                    $25 
                    Branch Location - Fee is not determined on anticipated gross income                          $25 
                       For businesses based outside the City of Tacoma, and if your sales or gross income in Tacoma is less than 
                        $2,000 annually you may be exempt from the license requirement see page 4 for more information. 

   Annual Business License Expiration: 
   All business licenses expire December 31. Renewal business license fees are due on or before January 31 of each year to avoid late filing 
   penalties. 

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  If your business worldwide gross income is less than $250,000 annually, your account will be placed on a non-reporting tax filing status.    
  When your business anticipates worldwide gross income during a calendar year to be greater than $250,000, it is your responsibility to notify 
  Tax & License of the change in your reporting status and to pay the higher Business License fee. Failure to do so may subject your business to 
  penalties.    
                                                                                                                                                    
  BUSINESS LICENSE EXEMPTION - BUSINESSES LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CITY OF TACOMA ONLY                                                                  
    For businesses based outside the City of Tacoma, a minimum business license threshold is established.  Any person or business whose 
    value of products, gross proceeds of sales or gross income of the business in the City of Tacoma is equal to or less than $2,000 annually 
    AND does not maintain a place of business within the city shall be exempt from the general business license requirement. This exemption 
    does not apply to regulatory license requirements. If you are unsure if your business falls under this threshold, please contact Tax & 
    License at 253-591-5252 or visit our webpage at cityoftacoma.org/taxandlicense. 
                                                                                                                                                   
    CITY ZONING, BUILDING & FIRE REQUIREMENTS                                                                                                      
   City zoning, buidling and fire requirements must be met before business activity commences in the City of Tacoma. 
     The City Zoning code designates permitted uses of land based on mapped zones that separate one set of land uses from another. 
     Please call Planning  and Development Services at (253) 591-5030 to ensure your business location and activity meet the City’s zoning 
     requirements. 
  
     The City Building code requires building permits when making any modifications to a building.  Please call Planning and 
     Development Services  at (253) 591-5030 for information if making modifications. 
  
     The City Fire code has certain exit and safety requirements depending on the type of business activity. Please call the Fire department at 
     (253) 591-5740 to ensure your business location and activity meet the City’s fire requirements. 
                                                                                                                                                   
                              Federal and State Licensing Information 

       Use the information below as a guide to get your new business licensed. Each agency has different requirements that are dependent 
       on your business activity and we recommend you contact each of them before starting your business. 

         Determine the best type of business structure: Contact the Washington Secretary of State at 360-725-0377  
          or visit sos.wa.gov 
        
         Obtain a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) by completing a Master Business Application at the Washington State Department of 
          Revenue. Contact the Department of Revenue at 1-800-451-7985 or visit bls.dor.wa.gov 
 
         Determine if you need to obtain a Professional License from the Washington State Department of Licensing by  
          visiting dol.wa.gov/listoflicenses or call 253-382-2000 
           
         Determine if you need to obtain a license or permit from the Washington State Department of Labor 
          and Industries by visiting lni.wa.gov/tradeslicensing or call 1-800-647-0982 
           
         Determine if you need a Federal Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. 
          Visit irs.gov for more information or call the local Tacoma office at 253-428-3518 
           
                   For questions about your application, email Tax & License at licenseinfo@cityoftacoma.org or call 253-591-5252. 
                                                                         
                                     We look forward to seeing you in Tacoma! 

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