The Commercial Based Application is the packet the Henry County Tax Commissioner's Business & Occupational Tax Division uses to issue a business license (occupational tax certificate) to a commercial business in Henry County, Georgia. Unlike a Henry County property tax return, it asks about the business, its building, the owner's legal status, the employer's work-authorization status and gross receipts. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and the county's instructions are published by the Tax Commissioner.
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What is Commercial Based Application – Henry County, GA?
Commercial Based Application is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's application packet for the business license, or occupational tax certificate, that a commercial business in Henry County, Georgia must hold; it is printed as "Occupational Tax Application" with Commercial marked as the business location.
The Business & Occupational Tax Division of the Henry County Tax Commissioner issues it. The packet contains several parts:
- Applicant Information and Business Information, including ownership type and a description of the services provided.
- An Occupational and Personal Property Tax Acknowledgement that the applicant initials.
- A Commercial Application – Building and Fire section, with square footage, hours, construction and permit questions.
- A Legal Status Affidavit and a Private Employer Affidavit.
- A Gross Receipts Page, which the office uses to calculate the occupational tax.
- A Personal Property Guide for business owners.
The county's page says the business license regulates businesses operating in the county under Municode Sec. 3-3-21. After submission the application goes to Planning and Zoning, and Fire and Building inspections follow.
This is not the Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P). That return is filed with the Henry County Tax Assessor, and the guide in this packet only explains it. Restaurants and convenience stores that will sell alcohol must also complete a separate Alcoholic Beverage License Application.
Who needs to file Commercial Based Application – Henry County, GA?
All commercial businesses in Henry County must have a business license, and this application is the form for a commercial location. The printed form lets you mark the application as New Business, New Construction or New Business, No Construction, and to choose the ownership type: Sole Proprietor, LLC, INC or Partnership.
- Signer: the county's page says the person signing must be an owner or an officer listed on the Articles, and a copy of that person's driver's license is required.
- Incorporated businesses and LLCs: updated paperwork from the Secretary of State is required, if applicable.
- Non-citizen applicants: a qualified alien or nonimmigrant 18 or older who is lawfully present attaches a copy of the Alien Registration Card and completes the second option of the Legal Status Affidavit.
- Restaurants and convenience stores selling alcohol: these also complete the Alcoholic Beverage License Application and must appear in person to process it.
The form has a Home-Based option in its business location box, but this version has Commercial marked and its Building and Fire section applies to a commercial address. The Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P) is a separate filing with the Tax Assessor.
When to file Commercial Based Application – Henry County, GA
File the Commercial Based Application when you are opening a commercial business in Henry County, as a new business with or without construction. The county's page says applications are void after 60 days, so complete and submit the packet once your documents are ready.
Occupational Tax Certificates are renewed on a calendar-year basis. A certificate expires on December 31 of the year the application is submitted, and fees are assessed at the time of submission for the current year.
After submission, Planning and Zoning reviews the application; the county says to allow a minimum of 10 to 15 days. The office notifies you when it is approved, and you then call Fire and Building to schedule inspections.
On the Gross Receipts Page, a business already operating reports receipts from October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year; a business not yet operating estimates the next 12 months. After licensing, notify the Occupational Tax Department of any change or closure. The personal property return (PT-50P) has its own April 1 deadline with the Tax Assessor.
Documents you need
- Copy of the driver's license of the person signing the application, who must be an owner or an officer listed on the Articles.
- Square footage of the suite or building with dimensions for the location of the business, outer dimensions only.
- Updated paperwork from the Secretary of State, if the business is incorporated (Inc.) or a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC).
- Any state license that may apply to the business.
- Copy of the Alien Registration Card, if you are a qualified alien or nonimmigrant 18 or older and lawfully present in the United States.
- Detailed and scaled floor plan, only if Planning and Zoning requires it to calculate parking.
- Alcoholic Beverage License Application, only if a restaurant or convenience store will sell alcohol.
How to fill out Commercial Based Application – Henry County, GA
Enter the account and applicant names
At the top, write the Account # if you have one. Under Applicant Information, enter Name of Business, DBA, Name of Applicant and any Additional Applicant.
Add addresses and contact details
Enter the Business Address, the Mailing Address, Parcel ID, Business Phone #, Cell Phone # and Email Address, with city, state and ZIP where the form asks.
Complete the business information
Mark the business location (Commercial is marked on this version) and enter the Number of Employees. Choose New Business, New Construction or New Business, No Construction, mark the Ownership Type, and describe day-to-day operations under Type of Service Being Provided.
Initial the acknowledgements
Read each statement in the Occupational and Personal Property Tax Acknowledgement and write your initials on its line. They cover notifying the department of changes or closures, fees and the December 31 expiration, being present during operating hours as a licensed professional, filing a Personal Property Tax Return, and resubmitting an application or driver license on request.
Complete the Building and Fire section
Enter the Square Footage of Building, the model for the proposed business, and Hours of Operation. Answer whether the business differs from the previous tenant, whether you plan construction work, whether permits were applied for (with the SagesGov case number or permit numbers), and the due diligence meeting question.
Sign and date the application
Sign and date at the end of the Building and Fire section. The signer must be an owner or officer on the Articles.
Choose your Legal Status Affidavit option
Check option 1 if you are a United States citizen 18 or older, or option 2 if you are a qualified alien or nonimmigrant. Non-citizens enter the Alien Registration Number and attach a copy of the Alien Registration Card.
Complete the Private Employer Affidavit
Enter the private employer's name and select 1(a) or 1(b) based on your employee count on January 1 of the year signed; the owner counts as an employee. If you select 1(a), enter the E-Verify number and complete Section 2 with the federal work authorization user identification number and date of authorization.
Sign before a notary where required
Complete the Executed on line (date, year, city, state), sign, and print your name. The notary block follows; the county's page asks for the application to be notarized where applicable.
Fill in the Gross Receipts Page
Enter the date, account number, business or corporation name and address. Enter gross receipts for October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year, or a 12-month estimate if not yet in business, then add your title, signature and date.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every section, the initials, signatures and affidavit choices. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package with the documents listed above for the channels under How to submit.
How to submit Commercial Based Application – Henry County, GA
The Henry County Tax Commissioner takes the application online or in person by appointment.
- Online: use the Apply Online link on the county's Commercial Business page, https://henrycountytax.com/251/Commercial-Business.
- In person: applications are by appointment only. Use Schedule An Appointment on the same page. The office is at Henry County Tax Commissioner, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253; the phone is 770.288.8180 Option 5.
- By mail: the county's page states that it does not process applications sent through the mail.
Submit the completed packet with the documents listed under required documents; the county's page asks for it to be notarized where applicable. Fees are assessed at the time of submission. For Fire and Building, payment is made before inspection, and the county accepts cash, checks, debit and credit cards, with a processing fee on cards. Ask the Tax Commissioner for current amounts.
Planning and Zoning may ask for a detailed, scaled floor plan and says staff will contact you within 24 hours if more information is needed. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Completing only one section of the affidavit pages; the form says both sections must be completed or the application will be rejected.
- Sending the application by mail; the county's page says it does not process applications sent through the mail.
- Letting the application sit past 60 days; the county's page says applications are void after that period.
- Having someone sign who is not an owner or an officer on the Articles, or omitting a copy of the signer's driver's license.
- Omitting the copy of the Alien Registration Card, or the Alien Registration Number, when you are a qualified alien or nonimmigrant.
- Checking 1(a) on the Private Employer Affidavit without entering the E-Verify number and the Section 2 work authorization details.
- Reporting the wrong period on the Gross Receipts Page instead of October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year, or leaving out an estimate when not yet in business.
- Leaving the acknowledgement lines uninitialed, including the Personal Property Tax Return line.
- Treating this application as the property tax filing; the Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P) goes to the Tax Assessor by April 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Henry County Commercial Based Application?
It is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's application for a commercial business license, also called an occupational tax certificate. The packet includes the business and building details, two affidavits and a gross receipts page the office uses to calculate the occupational tax.
Is the Commercial Based Application a Henry County property tax form?
No. It applies for a business license and occupational tax certificate. The packet only includes a guide to the Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P), which is filed with the Henry County Tax Assessor and is due April 1.
Do I need a business license for a commercial business in Henry County?
Yes. The Tax Commissioner's page states that all commercial businesses must have a business license. Required items include the application, the signer's driver's license, building dimensions, Secretary of State paperwork for an Inc. or LLC if applicable, and any state license that applies.
When does a Henry County occupational tax certificate expire?
It expires on December 31 of the year the application is submitted. Certificates renew on a calendar-year basis, and fees are assessed at the time of submission. The county also says applications are void after 60 days.
How long does approval take after I submit the application?
The county says to allow a minimum of 10 to 15 days for Planning and Zoning approval. It notifies you once approved, and you then call Fire and Building to schedule the inspections.
Can I mail the Commercial Based Application?
No. The county's page says it does not process applications sent through the mail. You apply through the Apply Online link or in person by appointment at 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253.
Does the application have to be notarized?
The county's page asks for it to be notarized where applicable. The packet's Private Employer Affidavit includes a notary public block with a commission expiration line, so complete it in front of a notary when that applies.
What gross receipts period do I report?
If the business was operating, report receipts from October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year. If it was not, estimate the next 12 months from your business plan. Georgia law requires the office to keep this information confidential.
Can I fill out the Commercial Based Application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of Henry County and does not file or submit the application; you apply through the Tax Commissioner's channels.
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