Opening a Business in the City?

See Alexandria's Tax Guide for New City Businesses,  Licensing and Tax Guide for Non-Profit Organizations, and Events, Courses, and Resources for City Businesses.

Business Tax Portal

The City of Alexandria has created a new online business tax portal that allows businesses to securely access business tax accounts, view historical data, file tax returns and make payments online.

New for tax year 2020, you can now file and pay your Business, Professional, and Occupational Licenses (BPOL) online using the Business Tax Portal! We hope you find this new feature helpful and welcome your feedback.

To access the portal, click the button below or visit  businesstaxportal.alexandriava.gov.

To link accounts, use the one-time PIN mailed to your business in early April, 2019 (your PIN can be retrieved any time by contacting the Business Tax Division at 703.746.4800) and your Business Account Number along with either your business’ Federal Employer Identification number or your Social Security number. Once the accounts are linked, you will be able to file and pay for taxes such as Business and Professional and Occupational Licenses (BPOL), Business Personal Property, Meals, Transient Lodging, and Admission taxes online. 

Please note, the PIN must be a 10-digit number. If you received a PIN with fewer than 10 digits, add zeros at the beginning of the PIN to reach 10 digits.

Business License and Business Personal Property Taxes

• Business License Tax Information 

  Pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Administrative Code, extraordinary COVID-19 loans/grants such as Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and AEDP Back-2-Business (B2B) and Weather grants can be excluded from taxable gross receipts when filing the City’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax returns.
  
  Va. Code § 58.1-3732 (A)(4)
  23VAC10-500
  23VAC10-500-60

• How the Business Tax is Calculated 
• Additional Documentation for Business License Filing 
• Business Personal Property Tax Information 
• Short-Term Residential Rental Registry

Business License and Business Personal Property Tax Forms

• 2020 Business Personal Property Return and Instructions
• 2021 Business License Application (for new businesses)
• Interdepartmental Form 
• W-9 Form
• 2021 Delinquent Business License Application
• Cessation of Business Form 
• Contractor's Certification of Insuring Liability for Worker's Compensation (for contractors only)
  • Additional information about ONLINE FILING

Business License Renewal Forms

The 2021 Business License Renewal forms can be filed online and the preprinted renewals are mailed to license holders. Copies of the forms can be obtained from the online portal under correspondence of the license account.

• BUSINESS TAX PORTAL

Other Business-Related Taxes and Fees

• Admission Tax 
• Bank Franchise License Tax 
• Cigarette Tax 
• Communications Tax 
• Consumer Utility Tax 
• Gasoline Tax 
• Meal Tax 
• Public Rights-of-Way Use Fee 
• Sales Tax 
• Short-Term (Daily) Rental Tax 
• Transient Lodging (Hotel) Tax 

Contact Us

For questions about operating a business in the City and the City's business license and business personal property taxes, contact:

Business Tax
301 King St., Suite 1700
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.746.4800      
Email: businesstax@alexandriava.gov

For questions about any other business-related tax, please see the page for that tax as listed above or in the Alexandria Tax Guide.