Business License

Most businesses located within Chesterfield County are subject to the Chesterfield County business license tax. This is a tax on the privilege of engaging in a licensable business activity within the County, and it is calculated upon gross receipts (or gross purchases in the case of wholesale merchants).

New Businesses

•  You must obtain any state required license(s) prior to beginning business in the County.
• A late payment penalty of up to 10% of the tax due will be imposed along with interest if the licenses are not obtained within 30 days of the date the business opened.

Forms Needed

• Application for Chesterfield County Business License (PDF)
• Business License Classification Questionnaire (PDF)
  • This form provides information that is necessary in order to classify your business activities correctly

A Memo to New Applicants for Chesterfield County Business Licenses (PDF) describes in more detail the steps for obtaining licenses.

Existing Businesses

Renewal applications and appropriate tax payments must be filed in the Commissioner's Office or postmarked on or before March 1 each year to avoid the late payment penalty and interest.

For assistance with the business license application or the licensing process, please contact the Commissioner's Office at 804-748-1281, or visit the office during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Business Taxes

The business section of the Commissioner of the Revenue administers several local business taxes, including:

• Business license - requires accompanying payment, may not be filed by facsimile or email
• Business tangible personal property tax - may be sent via facsimile at 804-796-3236 or emailed
• Machinery and tools tax - may be sent via facsimile at 804-796-3236 or emailed

You may download the blank forms for use in filing the tax, but the completed forms, with the exception of the business license application, must be filed by regular mail, facsimile or email in order to be accepted as a valid filing. After completing the desired form, please send a printed copy to us via U.S. Mail or delivery address (for express delivery only).

Mailing & Delivery Addresses

Mail To

Commissioner of the Revenue
P.O. Box 124
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Express Mail

Commissioner of the Revenue
Attn: Business License Section
9901 Lori Road, Room 165
Chesterfield, VA 23832

Fax

• Fax: 804-796-3236

Note:

• The business tangible personal property tax form or the machinery and tools tax form may be sent via facsimile.
• The business license tax form, which requires accompanying payment, may not be filed by facsimile.

In addition to the printed instructions on the form, we provide assistance, at no charge, in completing these forms. After reading the instructions, if you require assistance in completing the form, please call us at 804-748-1281.