Clovis, CA Local Taxes & Fees: Business Tax Classification (2026)
Key Facts
- Base rate
- $.50 per $1,000 gross receipts
- Professional services rate
- $3.00 per $1,000 (ratio 6.0)
- Automotive dealers rate
- $.15 per $1,000 (ratio .3)
- Transfer/change fee
- $10.00
- Duplicate certificate fee
- $5.00
- Classification authority
- Director of Finance amends Manual
Summary
Clovis sorts every gross-receipts business into one of eleven rate classifications listed in the Clovis Business Registration and Tax Certificate Classification Manual, each carrying its own fee ratio applied to a $.50-per-$1,000 base rate, from $.15 for automotive dealers up to $3.00 for professional services. The Director of Finance assigns and can revise a business's classification, and a separate certificate is required for every location.
§ 3.1.131. Business registration and tax certificate classifications. For the purpose of this chapter, those businesses whose registration fees are on the basis of gross receipts shall be categorized on the basis of the Clovis Business Registration and Tax Certificate Classification Manual. The Manual may be amended by the Director of Finance if, based on information provided to him, such change in classification, as determined by the Director of Finance, would be reasonable.
Full Breakdown
101 makes it unlawful to commence or carry on any business in Clovis requiring a tax certificate without first registering and obtaining one, with each day of unregistered operation a separate violation. 131 ties the fee owed by gross-receipts businesses to whatever category the Clovis Business Registration and Tax Certificate Classification Manual assigns, and lets the Director of Finance amend that Manual whenever a reclassification is reasonable based on information supplied to him. 50. 103 requires a separate tax certificate for each branch or place of business, though entities under identical ownership at one premises need only one certificate covering all gross receipts.
201(b)-(c). 133 offers a one-time two-year fee rebate for a home-based business moving into a commercial unit after completing a small-business training course. 104 clarifies that registering and paying does not amount to a City permit.
Violations & Fines
Carrying on a Clovis business without first registering and procuring the required tax certificate is a separate violation of the Code for every day the business operates, under § 3.1.101. The Director of Finance may examine a certificate holder's books and records under § 3.1.124, and refusing that examination is itself a violation. Unless a specific section makes the offense an infraction, Code violations default to a misdemeanor under § 1.2.01, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both; infractions escalate from $100 to $200 to $500 for repeat violations within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Clovis decide which tax class my business is in?
How much will my Clovis business tax certificate cost?
Does a Clovis business tax certificate work as a business permit?
What if I run two businesses from the same Clovis location?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clovis
California rules heatmap·Compare Clovis to another location·View the California local taxes & fees overview
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