Business Licenses and Permits

We published a story recently about bloggers in Philadelphia being charged a $300 business license fee. Well city officials claim the tax will only be imposed on bloggers that report revenue to the IRS. Still doesn’t seem right.
…

Jefferson County, Alabama is once again experiencing conflict over its occupational and business license tax.  Just months after the controversy over the county’s former business license tax went all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court, the new law is under fire.  Two people who work in Jefferson County have sued to strike the taxes …

The City of San Luis Obispo, California has begun its program, which we first highlighted on this blog on August 5th, to bring landlords into compliance with city business license laws.  The city kicked off the program by mailing out 3,900 letters to landlords yesterday.  The letter gives details on how to apply for a …

Many people going into business may not realize that jurisdictions often require business licenses to be renewed. It is quite common for municipalities and counties to send out renewal notices to business owners on an annual basis. Sometimes there is a universal renewal fee that all must businesses must pay, while some places charge renewal …

One of the great things about our country is our First Amendment’s right to freedom of speech. Citizens of the United States have always been able to speak their mind, whether it has been to speak out in support or in opposition of certain issues, to express certain feelings and emotions or to just ramble …

Invariably sometime during the weekend, my kids will ask me if I can take them to the mall so that they can play at the ‘play place’.  There’s something about the mini playground at our local mall that is somehow more exciting and fun than the playground at their school up the block.
As I drink …

As I often tell my children, following the rules may be difficult, but it makes life easier in the long run.  Often the consequences of not following the rules creates a domino effect where additional unintended consequences come into play.
A bar owner in Kansas City, Kansas learned this lesson the hard way recently when he …

The City of Memphis, TN police department has seized the files of Steven Watson,  the owner of Nevets Construction, after allegations that he scammed the public.  Watson has been offering Memphis citizens jobs to help clean up oil on the Gulf Coast.  The jobs would pay $20 an hour and the only requirement was that …

Michael Dawson, owner of Great Lakes Gold Rush in Walker, MI was recently ordered to stop using young women with pompoms to advertise his business on the street outside of the store.  District Judge Peter Versluis determined that the pompom girls were pedestrian signage which violates the city’s sign ordinance.  Dawson disagrees with the ruling …

If your business sells tangible items, there’s a good chance you’re subjected to a sales tax. However, this is not always the case. There are certain things, like food meant for human consumption, which may be exempt depending on the state you live in.
Wyoming and Massachusetts are two of several states that exempt food products …