Business Licenses and Permits

Businesses in the City of Columbia, South Carolina are being asked to disclose their income, in an attempt to close the annual shortfall of $100,000 because of under-reported revenues.

Proprietors will have to disclose part of their federal tax forms with back-up documentation as part of a new business license ordinance that came into effect this year, The State reported.

However, some businesses are complaining about the new measure, according to business license office director Brenda Kyzer.

At a meeting at City Hall, councilwoman Leona Plaugh explained that she had received complaints that the requirement sent the wrong message to the business community.

“We’re in the era where we’re trying to be more business friendly,” she said. “The reaction I’m hearing from the community is that this is going in the wrong direction.”

The measure was introduced after spot checks over three years revealed that one-third of businesses in the area had under-reported annual gross revenue, meaning they were often charged for the wrong business license.

Last month officials repealed a special tax paid by downtown businesses that generated approximately $20,000 annually in an attempt to be more business-friendly.

Tags: business license, business licenses, fees, South Carolina