Riverside, CA Local Taxes & Fees: Business Tax Classification (2026)
Key Facts
- Classification A minimum tax
- $65 for first $25,000 gross receipts
- Classification A marginal rate
- $0.44 per $1,000 up to $500,000
- Annual tax cap
- $4,000 as of 7/1/1989, CPI-adjusted
- Late penalty at 60 days
- 30% of tax due
- Late penalty at 120 days
- 75% of tax due (capped)
- Enforcing office
- City Finance Collector
Summary
Riverside sorts every business into a tax classification under RMC § 5.04.300 and bills annual tax on gross receipts. Retail sellers, landlords, hotels, and food establishments fall into Classification A: a $65 minimum on the first $25,000 of receipts, plus $0.44 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000, then $0.11 per $1,000 above that. Wholesalers, manufacturers, and telephone companies pay lower Classification B rates.
A.Tax rates based upon gross receipts. Every person who engages in business in the City shall pay a business tax based upon gross receipts unless specifically assigned a different tax rate in a subsequent schedule.1.Classification "A" Retail Sales. All businesses consisting of selling at retail, manufacturing and selling at retail, services, rental of residential and nonresidential real estate, hotels, motels, bowling alleys, skating rinks, food establishments, convalescent hospitals, child care centers, day nurseries, babysitters and pawnbrokers will be classified in this category and shall pay an annual business tax as follows:a.Minimum tax of $65.00 for the first $25,000.00 of gross receipts and in addition thereto, the sum of $0.44 per year for each additional $1,000.00 of gross receipts or fractional part thereof in excess of $25,000.00 but less than $500,000.00 and in addition thereof, the sum of $0.11 per year for each additional $1,000.00 of gross receipts or fractional part thereof in excess of $500,000.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
300(A). 11 per $1,000 above that. 06 per $1,000 above. 09 per $1,000 above. 52 per $1,000 in gross receipts, unless the machine is owned and serviced by the proprietor of the licensed premises where it sits. 300(B) separately taxes general service businesses at $75 plus $6 per owner, partner, officer or employee; professional services at $115 plus $115 per professional employee and $6 per non-professional employee; and contractors at $160 (general/engineering) or $110 (specialty) plus $6 per employee. The maximum annual tax under the gross-receipts schedules is capped at $4,000 as of July 1, 1989, adjusted each November 1 for CPI change in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, capped at 5%. 040 makes it unlawful to transact business in Riverside without first procuring a business tax certificate and paying the tax due.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a certificate violates § 5.04.040 and can draw enforcement by the Collector; a certificate obtained through misrepresentation may be revoked without liability to the City. Under § 5.04.220, unpaid tax accrues a 30% penalty 60 days past due, 50% at 90 days, and 75% at 120 days, capped at 75% of the tax owed; the Collector will not issue or reinstate any certificate to a business delinquent on prior business taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tax classification applies to a Riverside retail store?
Is there a cap on how much business tax a company pays?
What happens if I pay my Riverside business tax late?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California local taxes & fees overview
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Business Tax Classification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle business tax classification.