West Hollywood City Approves Urgency Ordinance Reducing Certain Annual Business Tax Payments And Tax Certificate Fees By 50 Percent

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

February 18, 2021

The City Council of the City of West Hollywood, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, approved an Urgency Ordinance which reduces certain annual Business Tax and Tax Certificate fees by 50 percent for the fiscal year 2021 billing cycle as applied to calendar year 2020 Business Tax payments or renewals. Reductions are applicable to lines 5 and 7 on the renewal form mailed to businesses on February 1, 2021.

For businesses that have already submitted payment, refunds will start to be issued beginning March 15, 2021. Businesses wishing to receive a credit toward 2021 Business Tax payments in lieu of the 50 percent refund should contact City of West Hollywood Accounting/Finance Specialist Laura D’Ambrosia at ldambrosia@weho.org prior to March 15, 2021.

Businesses that have not submitted payment may do so online at https://blt.weho.org/Renew/Renew1/BusinessLicense. Instructions and more information can be found at www.weho.org/business/business-tax/annual-renewals. In order to avoid penalties and interest, payment must be made no later than May 1, 2021.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Hall is currently closed for in-person transactions. There are two options for filing and paying business taxes:

1. Online: https://blt.weho.org/Renew/Renew1/BusinessLicense. In order to use the online system, use the Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the renewal form mailed to businesses on February 1, 2021. For assistance locating the PIN, please email ldambrosia@weho.org.
2. By mail: send the completed renewal form with payment check made payable to the City of West Hollywood in the provided envelope to arrive prior to May 1, 2021.

The City of West Hollywood regularly updates its Small Business Resources webpage area as part of coronavirus information available on the City’s website at www.weho.org/coronavirus. At this webpage area, community members can find up-to-date details about relief available during the coronavirus crisis on a variety of topics.

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s 2020 Business Tax Reduction, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Revenue Manager Annie Ruiz at aruiz@weho.org or (323) 848-6499. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

The City of West Hollywood has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Individuals are advised to stay at home as much as possible and limit close interactions to those in your household. When in public, community members should maintain your space with social (physical) distancing of at least six feet, and cover your face. Public Health officials recommend that everyone, even those who are vaccinated, to continue to follow physical distancing and infection control directives and wear a clean face covering that securely covers both your nose and mouth when in in public.

West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions. Most public City buildings and facilities remain closed. City Hall remains accessible for business and essential services with transactions to be conducted by phone (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org.

City of West Hollywood coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirus and the City encourages community members to follow @wehocity on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and turn on notifications. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.