In response to the growing financial hardship imposed on taxpayers in the City and County of San Francisco, California (San Francisco or City) by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City's Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector (Office) has extended the San Francisco business registration fee deadline by four months to September 30, 2020 (see the Office's COVID-19 Response: Deferral of Business Registration Fee posted on the Office's website at https://sftreasurer.org/covid19).

The following information pertains only to the San Francisco fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

San Francisco's Business and Tax Regulations Code generally requires every person engaging in business within the City, regardless of whether the business or person is subject to City taxation, to register within 15 days after commencing business within the City.

San Francisco requires an annual business registration fee. A taxpayer must renew its business registration every year by May 31 for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of that calendar year through June 30 of the following year (e.g. renew May 31, 2020, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021).

Given the current hardships City taxpayers face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Office is extending the 2021 business registration fee deadline by four months to September 30, 2020 from May 31, 2020.

The Office noted that the extended deadline will lead to $49 million in deferrals for 89,000 businesses, so it is encouraging all businesses that can register and pay their fees on time to do so to provide revenue to keep the City's government running and providing vital City services.

The City Business Registration Fee may be filed online on the Office's website at https://sftreasurer.org/business-registration-renewal-instructions-2020.

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