The Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form is the application that the Henry County Tax Commissioner's Business & Occupational Tax Division uses to issue an occupational tax certificate (business license) to a business run from a home. It is one of the Henry County forms that touch property tax, because the packet also carries a Personal Property Guide for business owners. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The Tax Commissioner publishes the original PDF and handles the application at 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253.
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What is Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form – Henry County, GA?
The Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's application for an occupational tax certificate for a business that operates from a residence in Henry County, Georgia. It is issued by the Business & Occupational Tax Division.
The printed packet holds several parts in one PDF:
- the occupational tax application, with applicant and business information and an acknowledgement the applicant initials and signs;
- a Legal Status Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 50-36-1;
- a Private Employer Affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6(d), with a notary block;
- a Gross Receipts Page the office uses to calculate the occupational tax;
- the Henry County Personal Property Guide for business owners;
- the Henry County ULDC Requirements page, with questions about how the home is used, and the text of the Home Occupation Ordinances (Sec. 7.01.00 to 7.01.04), which the applicant keeps.
The form is for home-based businesses. The Tax Commissioner's page says a home-based business is allowed if the home merely serves as the base of operations. The Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P) is a separate filing with the Henry County Tax Assessor, not part of this form.
Who needs to file Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form – Henry County, GA?
Owners who run a business from their home in Henry County and need an occupational tax certificate use this form. The Home Occupation Ordinances in the packet say all home occupations must obtain a business license from Henry County.
Conditions that appear in the packet:
- The activity must be a home occupation the ordinance lists or a similar use; activities not listed are prohibited as home occupations.
- Home occupations may employ up to two people who work on the premises but do not live there, only in the RA (residential-agricultural) zoning district, outside a subdivision. Otherwise employees are limited to residents of the dwelling, and at least one resident must be the primary operator.
- Personal care homes and adult or child day care must provide an approved state license before the county issues a business license.
- Agricultural activities raising crops and farm animals on properties over three acres are not subject to the home occupation requirements.
- Applicants must certify legal status: either a United States citizen 18 or older, or a qualified alien or nonimmigrant 18 or older who is lawfully present.
Businesses in a commercial location are marked Commercial on the form; this page covers the home-based version.
When to file Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form – Henry County, GA
Submit the application when you start a home-based business, because the form is for a New Business (with or without construction). Fees are assessed at the time the application is submitted, and every certificate expires on December 31 of the year the application is submitted, so a certificate is renewed on a calendar-year basis.
The Tax Commissioner's page says an application is void after 60 days if it is not completed. The office may also ask you to resubmit a current application or driver license at its discretion.
Notify the Occupational Tax Department of any change or closure of the business. Related personal property timing in the packet: the Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P) is due to the Tax Assessor by April 1, and property is assessed as of January 1.
Documents you need
- Georgia driver's license or Georgia state-issued ID reflecting your primary Henry County residence; the form also has an initial line confirming a copy is included.
- Any state-issued professional license that applies to your trade, such as electrician, plumber, master cosmetology or real estate.
- Updated Secretary of State paperwork for an incorporated (Inc.) business or a limited liability corporation (LLC), if applicable.
- A copy of your Alien Registration Card, if you are a qualified alien or nonimmigrant and check option 2 of the Legal Status Affidavit.
- A notarized Private Employer Affidavit, where applicable; the form has a notary public block with commission expiration.
- Floor plans drawn to scale showing the whole floor and the room used for the home occupation, as required by Sec. 7.01.02.E.1 of the ordinance.
- An approved state license, for a personal care home or an adult or child day care facility, before the county business license is issued.
How to fill out Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form – Henry County, GA
Enter applicant information
Fill in Name of Business, DBA, Name of Applicant, Additional Applicant, Business Address, Mailing Address, Parcel ID, phone numbers and Email Address. Leave Account # blank unless you have one, and mark Yes or No for text and e-alerts.
Describe the business
Mark Home-Based under Business Location, enter the Number of Employees, and answer whether the business will be open to the public. Choose New Business, New Construction or New Business, No Construction, then mark the Ownership Type: Sole Proprietor, LLC, INC or Partnership.
Write the service description
Under Type of Service Being Provided, give a thorough description of what the business does in day-to-day operations.
Initial the tax acknowledgements
Initial each of the three statements on notifying the department of changes or closures, fees and the December 31 expiration, and the yearly Personal Property Tax Return. Then sign and date.
Complete the Legal Status Affidavit
Mark whether you are a United States citizen 18 or older, or a qualified alien or nonimmigrant. If you are a non-citizen, enter your Alien Registration Number and attach a copy of your Alien Registration Card.
Complete the Private Employer Affidavit
Enter the private employer's name and choose 1(a) (more than ten employees, with E-Verify#) or 1(b) (fewer than ten; the owner counts as an employee). If you chose 1(a), complete Section 2 with the federal work authorization user ID and date of authorization.
Sign before a notary where required
Enter the execution date, city and state, then sign and print your name. A notary public completes the notary block, including the commission expiration, where notarization applies.
Fill in the Gross Receipts Page
Enter the date, account number, business name and address, gross receipts, your title and signature. Use October 1 of last year to September 30 of this year, or an estimate for the next 12 months if you were not yet in business.
Answer the ULDC questions
Describe how you will use your home, employee numbers and whether they are online or on site, 1099 status, equipment storage inside the main structure, and commercial vehicle parking. Initial each statement and enter the business name and address.
Review, download and print
Check every initial line, signature and date, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Gather the documents listed above and book an appointment as described under How to submit.
How to submit Home-Based Occupational Tax Application Form – Henry County, GA
Henry County takes this application in person, by appointment only, at the Henry County Tax Commissioner's office. The form itself prints no mailing address or online submission channel.
- In person, by appointment: Henry County Tax Commissioner, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, GA 30253. Schedule an appointment through the Tax Commissioner's Home-Based Business page at https://henrycountytax.com/252/HomeBased-Business. The form lists 770.288.8180 Option 5 and www.HenryCountyTax.com for questions.
- Payment: fees are assessed when you submit. The office accepts cash, checks and credit cards; contact the office for the amount.
Bring the signed application, the notarized affidavit where applicable, your Georgia driver's license or state ID, and any license or Secretary of State paperwork that applies (see required documents). If you need additional pages, the Tax Commissioner points to its Occupational Tax Forms page. Questions about the personal property return go to the Tax Assessor at 770-288-7999. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Completing only one section of the Legal Status and Private Employer Affidavit page; the form says both sections must be completed or the application will be rejected.
- Skipping the initials on the acknowledgement lines (changes or closures, fees and December 31 expiration, personal property return) or on the ULDC requirements lines.
- Leaving out a Georgia driver's license or state ID that shows your primary Henry County residence.
- Assuming that not paying means the business is closed; the Tax Commissioner says non-payment does not show the business stopped operating, and the owner must report changes or closure.
- Letting the application sit incomplete for more than 60 days, after which it is void.
- Reporting gross receipts for the wrong period: for an existing company the form asks for October 1 of last year to September 30 of the current year; new businesses estimate the next 12 months.
- Assuming this form covers personal property: the Business Personal Property Tax Return (PT-50P) is filed separately with the Tax Assessor by April 1.
- Checking option 2 of the Legal Status Affidavit without attaching a copy of the Alien Registration Card and entering the Alien Registration Number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Henry County home-based occupational tax application?
It is the Henry County Tax Commissioner's application for an occupational tax certificate (business license) for a business run from a home. It includes affidavits, a gross receipts page and home occupation questions, and the certificate expires December 31 of the year you apply.
Do I need a license for a home-based business in Henry County, GA?
Yes. The Home Occupation Ordinances printed in the packet say all home occupations shall obtain a business license from Henry County. Activities not listed in Sec. 7.01.01 as home occupations are prohibited.
What documents do I need for the home-based application?
You need a Georgia driver's license or state ID showing your primary Henry County residence, plus any state professional license that applies and Secretary of State paperwork for an Inc. or LLC. The notarized affidavit applies where applicable.
Can I apply for the home-based license online or by mail?
The Tax Commissioner's page says in-person applications are by appointment only, and the form names no mail or online channel. Schedule your appointment through the Home-Based Business page or call 770.288.8180 Option 5.
When does the occupational tax certificate expire?
All certificates expire on December 31 of the year the application is submitted. Fees are assessed at the time of submission, and the office accepts cash, checks and credit cards. Contact the office for the current amount.
How long is the application valid before it is void?
The Tax Commissioner states that applications are void after 60 days if they are not completed. Collect your ID, licenses, signatures and notarization before you start so the application can be finished.
Is a home-based business address public record?
Yes. The form and the Tax Commissioner's page say home-based business addresses are subject to an open records request and will be released to the public upon request. Gross receipts information is kept confidential under Georgia law.
Does this form cover business personal property tax?
No. The packet's Personal Property Guide says business personal property is returned to the Tax Assessor on the PT-50P by April 1. You acknowledge that duty on this form, but the return is a separate filing.
Can I fill out the Henry County application online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent, is not connected to Henry County and does not file the application; you submit it to the Tax Commissioner by appointment.
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