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Business Licenses

General Business License Information

The State of Alabama requires all persons, firms, and corporations that engage in or carry on any business or do any act for which a license is required by law, that he, she, they, or it, except as otherwise provided, shall pay to the county in which it is proposed to engage in or carry on such business or do such act the amount required for such license and shall comply with all the other requirements of this title per Section 40-12-2 of the Code of Alabama (1975). The Tuscaloosa County License Commissioner’s Office is charged with the issuance of State Business Licenses.

Before being issued a State Business License, the applicant must provide the social security number for individuals or federal employer ID number (FEIN) for other entities. An FEIN may be obtained through the IRS.

If you plan to conduct business within the city limits of Tuscaloosa, Northport, Moundville, Brookwood, or Vance, or within the town limits of Coaling, Coker, Lake View, or Woodstock, you may be required to obtain a municipal (city) business license as well. Please contact the appropriate municipality for additional information.

City of Tuscaloosa
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City of Northport
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City of Brookwood
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City of Vance
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City of Coaling
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City of Lake View
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City of Moundville
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City of Coker
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City of Woodstock
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State/County Business License Fees

State/County Business License fees are determined by the exact nature and type of business being conducted. For more specific information pertaining to business license costs, visit the Business & License Tax Division of the Alabama Department of Revenue’s website, or contact the Business License Department of the Tuscaloosa County License Commission at businesslicense@tuscco.com. Prior to issuance, some licenses require state regulatory permits, for example, auto dealers, food establishments, etc. Licenses dependent upon population will be based on the most recent census.

 

Where to Obtain a State/County Business License

State/County Business Licenses for Tuscaloosa County may only be purchased at the Main Office of the Tuscaloosa County License Commission, not at any of our other satellite locations.

Tuscaloosa County License Commission
Main Office
Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex
2501 7th St, Suite 100, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

You may contact us by email at businesslicense@tuscco.com or by calling us at (205) 464-8233 for information on how to purchase a license.

 

Collecting Sales Tax

All persons or businesses that sell tangible property at retail or operate machines or places of entertainment or amusement must collect sales tax and make reports and payments to all applicable taxing agencies. For more information on collecting sales tax, contact the Tuscaloosa County Special Tax Board.

Tuscaloosa County Special Tax Board
2620 6th Street, Suite 100, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 722-0540

 

Renewing a State/County Business License

State/County Business Licenses are valid for a fiscal year beginning October 1 and ending September 30 of the following year. Business licenses are renewed annually between October 1 and October 31. Reminder notices to renew are mailed to businesses, but are only done so as a courtesy. Alabama law mandates penalties for failure to renew a business license during the specified renewal period.

State/County Business License renewals may be processed by mail for an additional $2 mail fee.

We now offer ONLINE RENEWAL of most state/county business licenses.

 

Changing Business Locations

If a business changes location, the original business license must be updated. Bring the current State/County Business License to the Main Office of the Tuscaloosa County License Commission in the Courthouse Annex at 2501 7th Street, Tuscaloosa, or contact us by email at businesslicense@tuscco.com or by telephone at (205) 464-8233 to change the address on your State/County Business License to the new location.

Auto dealers must contact the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division – Dealer License Section for procedures to change the location of a dealership. Dealers may call (334) 242-9000 or submit a Help Request online.

 

Selling or Buying a Business

State/County Business Licenses may be transferred to new owners. The new owner must bring the original State/County Business License and the transfer of ownership documents to the Main License Office or contact us to transfer the State/County Business License.

State/County Business Licenses issued to professionals (doctors, engineers, accountants, manicurists, etc.) are not transferable.

Minimum Information Needed to Purchase a State/County Business License

  • Name of Company
  • Owner Name(s)
  • Billing Address
  • Physical Address
  • Local Office Phone
  • Home Office Phone
  • Federal Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number
  • Type of Business

If you have any questions about business licenses, call us at (205) 464-8233 or email us at businesslicense@tuscco.com.

Disclaimer: This information is not all-inclusive and is only meant to provide general information regarding licensing and registration requirements in Tuscaloosa County. Please note that changes in the law and directives from the Alabama Department of Revenue can alter, negate, or compound the requirements contained herein.

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About Susan Jones

As the Tax Collector of Tuscaloosa County, I, Susan Jones and my staff would like to welcome you to the Tuscaloosa County website. We are here to serve the property owners and citizens of Tuscaloosa County. We are very proud of our county and feel that it is our people who make this a wonderful place to live. Thank you for visiting our website and allowing us to serve your needs as it relates to the Tax Collectors Office.

Our goal is to provide you with personalized service and to constantly improve and enhance this site to bring more services to you via the internet. Our office is dedicated to providing professional, efficient and convenient services to the taxpayers of Tuscaloosa County. Our office is responsible for collecting taxes based on each parcel’s assessment and disbursing it to the various agencies. This service is designed to offer you the following:

  • The ability to pay your taxes at your convenience at any time
  • The option to securely use a credit or debit card to pay your taxes
  • The ability to access tax related information for research or payment at any time
  • The convenience of paying your taxes from home, work or anywhere that you have access to the internet.

About Leigh Ann Fair

Leigh Ann Fair is a Tuscaloosa County native and grew up in Northport. She graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School and The University of Alabama. Leigh Ann resides in Ralph with her husband, Kevin and their two rescue pets.

Leigh Ann began working in the Tax Assessor’s Office in 2003 and served for 16 years before being elected Tax Assessor in 2018. In addition to overseeing the Tax Assessor’s Office, Leigh Ann is also a senior instructor for Auburn’s Government and Economic Development Institute. After receiving her Alabama Certified Appraiser certification, in 2010, she knew instructing would be a way to assist others in reaching their goals of being a certified business personal property appraiser. Leigh Ann continues to maintain a desire to learn and, in 2022, earned the designation of Alabama Certified Tax Administrator.

Professional/community involvements include being an active member of the Association of Alabama Tax Administrators, active member, past president, and Honorary Lifetime Member recipient, of the Alabama Association of Assessing Officials, 2021 Leadership Tuscaloosa Graduate, active member and past president of Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa and active member, former hospitality chairperson at The Word Community Church.