should you pay Los Angeles City tax if your business is outside of city of los angeles?

Los Angeles, CA Viewed 32 times. Posted about 1 month ago in Business

Hi,
i have been dealing with city of los angeles for a year now. i had two business locations that were outside of city of los angeles. when i filled out my business tax, i put down my home address that is in city of los angeles. after that, i guess the city of los angeles thinks my business is in city of los angeles and asked me to pay tax. no matter how many times i have talked to them or written to them. they say if i even advertise in the city of los angeles or the customers were from city of los angeles, i have to pay the city tax.
now the city is suing me for tax and penalty.
my CPA says that it's better to settle with them, and pay them if they can waive the penalty cuz it cost less then showing all papers.

Answers (4)

Steven Alan Fink

This attorney is licensed in California. Posted about 1 month ago.

You have no legal liability for the business tax. They cannot tax you for customers who live in city but buy from you in LA county. However, if the cost of defending the suit is greater than the settlement amount, it makes economic sense to settle.

The response given is not intended to create, nor does it create an ongoing duty to respond to questions. The response does not form an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to be anything other than the educated opinion of the author. It should not be relied upon as legal advice. The response given is based upon the limited facts provided by the person asking the question. To the extent additional or different facts exist, the response might possibly change.

Jonathan H Levy

This attorney is licensed in California and 1 other state. Posted about 1 month ago.

Another problem is that the City will put a tax lien on your business and wreck your credit. Extortion? Maybe, but it's a cost of doing business you can pass on to your customers.

davejava

Posted about 1 month ago.

Thank you for your responses.
my business is out of business!!!
does bankrupcy protect you from paying city taxes?
and even if my business locations were out of city of los angeles, are they able to come and ask for all the documents and papers of the customers?

thank you

Bruce Leonard Beal

This attorney is licensed in California and 1 other state. Posted about 1 month ago.

If you do settle, be sure to change your business address from your residence to outside of the county and advise LA City in writing that you have no business presence in LA City. There might be sense in settling, but there is no sense in allowing such a settlement to make you pay this tax indefinitely.

The above material does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each locality has differing laws. Each matter has differing facts. A legal matter cannot be satisfactorily resolved without a comprehensive review and analysis of all the unique facts and laws at issue by an able attorney. Your matter may result in a loss of rights if you do not timely retain such an attorney.