New process for businesses to report sales taxes, obtain licenses

November 30, 2016 at 10:44 am

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) will become the centralized collection point for licensing, filing and payment of Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), also known as Sales Tax; Use Tax and Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) for all taxing jurisdictions, including the City of Mesa. The new streamlined process will have no impact on citizens who do not have a business.

There are several advantages to the new process of filing with ADOR:

Ability to file and pay online through the ADOR tax portal (www.aztaxes.gov). Taxpayers have been asking for this for a long time and it is probably the top advantage for Mesa businesses

One centralized location point for reporting all taxes which should eliminate confusion

Ability to file for all business locations and jurisdictions on the same tax return

One place to resolve tax issues

One place to get licenses and license renewals

No more paper returns

The last tax return for businesses to file with Mesa will be the December 2016 return due in January 2017. License renewals for 2017 will be conducted through ADOR. Nothing should be done with the current City of Mesa license. Businesses should not close their license.

Kiosks are available in the Mesa Licensing Department, 55 N. Center St., to apply for a license online Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site help is available during those hours. Applicants will need to access their email through their mobile phone or tablet and will need their bank routing and account numbers. No appointments are needed.

ADOR is offering free classes to businesses needing help registering, filing or paying taxes on www.aztaxes.gov. The classes are available Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon at Mesa Police Fiesta District Station Community Room, 1010 W. Grove Ave. Registration is required at www.azdor.gov/TaxpayerEducation/TrainingClasses.

Known as the "Tax Simplification" law, HB 2111 was passed by the Arizona Legislature in June 2013 and was signed by Governor Jan Brewer June 25, 2013.

For more information, visit ADOR at www.azdor.gov or www.aztaxes.gov or the Mesa Tax Audit Department at www.mesaaz.gov/tax.

Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov