Business/Sales Tax License

Business License / Sales Tax Form:

• Business License Application - Sales Tax/Business Occupation Tax Return 

               FAQs - Business Licenses

• Home Occupation Application
• Vacation Rental Permit Application 

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Business Occupation Tax

The City of Aspen issues business licenses in order to:

• Generate revenues 
• Review and control the types of businesses and their proposed locations in Aspen 
• Set up accounts which will be used to keep track of the sales taxes collected from businesses and remitted to the City.
  

All businesses which are located in Aspen and/or which conduct any business activities (including both retail activities and services only) within the corporate limits of the City of Aspen are required to obtain a City of Aspen Business License for each calendar year and to pay the appropriate annual Business Occupation Tax based on the average number of FTE's.

Currently, these business occupation taxes are:

• 0-5 employees                 $150
• 6-15 employees               $200
• 16-49 employees             $400
• 50 or more employees     $750

There are no pro-rations for partial years.

The following businesses are exempt from paying the business occupation taxes:

• Businesses with liquor licenses that have already paid for a Liquor Occupation Tax. It is the City's intention NOT to charge any one business more than one "occupation tax".
• Non-profit groups with Non-Profit CRS Section 501(c)3 certification from the State of Colorado.
  

Business licenses are required for ALL business activities conducted in Aspen which includes activities for 1 day or 365 days. For example, if a business opens for Christmas, they are liable for a business occupation tax of $150 for the calendar year in which that Christmas falls. Non-profit organizations are also required to obtain business licenses for retail activities and they are also required to collect sales taxes, although their business licenses are issued at no cost.

If you are required to obtain a City of Aspen Business License, you must complete the Business License Application - Sales Tax/Business Occupation Tax Return. If you have a business location in Aspen, it is suggested that you contact each of the departments listed on the back of the application form for their approvals prior to paying the City Cashier at the Finance Window the appropriate amount of Business Occupation Tax. When your application form has been approved by the departments listed and you have paid the appropriate Business Occupation Tax to the City, you should receive your City of Aspen Business License and, if required, your City of Aspen Sales Tax License, in approximately two weeks.