Online Business Tax Portal

  1. Business Portal Instructions

Welcome to the Online Business Tax Portal Presented by the Commissioner of the Revenue for the City of Charlottesville.

Here, you will be able to perform many filing and payment functions related to your business tax account:

1.    File and pay for a business license renewal;

Businesses with an existing Charlottesville business license can use this portal to file and pay for your annual business license renewal. Business license renewals are due by March 1st of each year. 

Unfortunately, NEW license applications must still be processed by our staff.  You can complete that process in person by visiting our office or by submitting an application by mail or email.  Contact our office to determine proper license classification and tax or fee amount.  Visit our website for more information.

2.    File and pay Business Tangible Property Tax (or Machinery and Tools Tax);

All businesses located in the City of Charlottesville are required to file a Business Tangible Property Return (or Machinery and Tools Tax, as applicable) and provide an itemized list of all equipment utilized in the business as of January 1 of the current year. The return and list must be filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue on or before January 31 each year.  The business personal property tax is later billed in two installments:  the first installment is due June 5; the second installment is due December 5.  Once billed (you will receive a paper bill in the mail from the City Treasurer), you can pay the amount due on the business portal.  Visit our website for more information. 

3.    File and pay monthly Meals Tax;

Every business in the City of Charlottesville is required to collect a 6.5% tax on all prepared edible refreshments, nourishments, and liquids to include alcoholic beverages.  Meals Tax is to be reported and remitted on or before the 20th of the month following the month being reported.  New businesses should complete the Meals Tax Registration Form (PDF) and submit it to the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office via mail, email, or in person.  Visit our website for more information.

4.    File and pay monthly Transient Occupancy Tax;

Every lodging establishment in the City of Charlottesville offering lodging for compensation (for a period of less than 30 consecutive days), shall impose an 8% tax on the total price paid for lodging.  Transient Occupancy Tax is to be filed and remitted on or before the 20th of the month following the month being reported.  New businesses should complete the Transient Occupancy Tax Registration Form (PDF) and submit it to the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office via mail, email, or in person.  

Those using online rental platforms like Airbnb must report gross rental receipts, not the payout from the platform!  Due to a legislative change effective 09/01/2021, some third party intermediaries (such as VRBO) have begun collecting and remitting the local transient occupancy tax (8%) on behalf of each individual host.  As part of this process, we are requiring the host to file the gross rental receipts applicable to each rental platform monthly.  Visit our website for more information.

5.    File and pay quarterly Short-Term Daily Rental Tax:

Certain businesses engaged in the short term rental of tangible property pay a quarterly 1% tax on their gross receipts in lieu of traditional business tangible personal property tax.  Filings are due on the fifteenth of the month following the end of the reporting quarter, and payment is due on or before the last day of the month following the end of the reporting quarter.  Annually, businesses engaged in the short-term rental of tangible personal property should complete the Dealer’s Application for Certificate of Registration.

IMPORTANT NOTE – You cannot establish a business license account or create/register for a new business tax type through the portal.  New accounts must be created directly through our business tax office, either in-person, by phone, or by email.  Visit our website at www.charlottesville.gov/COR for more information.

Once an account has been created, you can file and pay any business taxes through the portal. 

  1. Legal Disclaimer
  1. Account Selection
  1. Account Details
  1. Billable Items
  1. Installments
  1. Filing
  1. Payment