Richmond imposes the Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax under Chapter 6, classifying businesses by gross receipts and activity type. Rates vary by category, with retailers, contractors, and professional services taxed differently.
Richmond's Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax under Municipal Code Chapter 6 and Virginia Code Title 58.1 Chapter 37 requires every business to register, classify by activity (retail, professional, contractor, financial, repair, or other), and pay annual tax based on gross receipts at category-specific rates. Small businesses below threshold pay flat fees while larger operators pay graduated rates. The tax funds general city services and applies to firms in Scott's Addition tech corridor, downtown legal offices, Carytown retailers, and Manchester maker spaces. Confederate-era and Civil Rights-era buildings now hosting modern offices fall under the same BPOL framework.
Failing to register, misclassifying activity, or underreporting gross receipts triggers BPOL audits, penalties, interest, and possible revocation of the business license under Chapter 6.
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See how Richmond's business tax classification rules stack up against other locations.
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