City of Tacoma Offers Tax Amnesty Program

Registered and unregistered businesses in Tacoma can – from June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2015 – apply for this one-time program.

It waives penalties and interest on local City of Tacoma business tax and license fees that were due April 30, 2015 or prior, to include:
• Business and Occupation Taxes
• Private Utility Taxes (Telephone, Cellular, Cable, Solid Waste, Natural Gas, Electricity)
• Admissions Taxes
• Gambling Taxes
• Annual Business License Fees
• Regulatory License Fees
• Unreported Liabilities (excluding those that are a part of a bankruptcy proceeding where payment of business taxes or license fees would violate federal bankruptcy laws and civil penalties that have been sent to the City’s collection agency)

The program also waives 50 percent of civil penalties (excluding civil penalties that have been sent to the City’s collection agency).

The payment deadline is July 31, 2015.

Unregistered Businesses

For unregistered businesses, the “look-back” period is limited to four years in addition to the current year. By June 30, 2015, they must submit a completed Application for Registration and Business or Rental Business License. By July 31, 2015, they must pay all unreported tax and license fees due for 2011 through 2015 and 50 percent of any civil penalties due on their account. They must also submit any supplemental information required for regulatory licenses. Lastly, they must waive their right to seek a refund or challenge the amount of taxes paid under the program.

Registered Businesses

By July 31, 2015, registered businesses must pay all tax and license fees due, as well as 50 percent of any civil penalties due. They must also submit any supplemental information required for regulatory licenses and file and pay all tax returns on time during the amnesty period. This includes tax returns due May 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and July 31, 2015. Lastly, they must waive their right to seek a refund or challenge the amount of taxes paid under the program.

More information is available at PayMyTacomaTax.org. Phone calls can be directed to 311 within Tacoma or (253) 591-5200 from anywhere else. Emails can be directed to TacomaAmnesty@cityoftacoma.org

Political Pressure to Raise Tacoma Minimum Wage

On Tuesday, 15 Now organizers submitted 1,300 signatures to the City of Tacoma asking the City Council to require all businesses to pay a minimum wage of $15/hr. 

Unfortunately for the business community, several councilmembers seem very interested in raising the minimum wage on a city-by-city basis.

While the proponents have not shared any details of a proposal with the business community, they are likely overlooking the potential impacts to EMPLOYEES including reduced benefits, reduced hours and jobs being moved outside Tacoma. 

With the Seattle economy currently driven by high-skilled/high-paid jobs the cost of living in Seattle is 22% higher Tacoma.  This differential is exacerbated even further when you consider the average home price in Tacoma  is only 40% of the average home price in Seattle.  The idea that Tacoma needs to have a minimum wage comparable to Seattle’s just doesn’t make sense.

For KING 5's coverage, click here.

Chamber Hosts CEO Roundtable with Governor

A group of the Chamber's South Sound Business Leaders from a range of industries held a closed-door roundtable at IID on Monday with Governor Jay Inslee.

Participants were given an opportunity to have a frank discussion on Tacoma-Pierce County as well as our state's economic development issues.

The roundtable kicked off with Kelly Ogilvie, the Governor's Senior Policy Advisor, relaying the Governor's strategic priorities for his Working Washington Agenda.

Governor Inslee joined the roundtable, held at one of IID's new conference rooms, after finishing a site tour of IID's headquarters in Tacoma.

Chamber Announces Tahoma Business Environmental Award Nominees

The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Business Environmental Award.

The 12^th Tahoma Business Environmental Award, sponsored by Taylor-Thomason Insurance, will be presented at the Chamber Luncheon Featuring Tahoma BusinessEnvironmental Award event on April 11, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Allenmore Public Golf Course, 2125 S Cedar Street.

Nominees for the award are:

• Cartridge World
• Earthwise Architectural Salvage
• The Harmon Brewing Company
• J.L. Darling Company
• Kirmac Collision Services
• Light Dental Studios
• NW Furniture Bank
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Regence BlueShield
• Sperry Ocean Dock
• Tacoma-Pierce County Habitat for Humanity
• University of Puget Sound

In addition to the award presentation, the Luncheon will feature speakers representing the intersection of business and the environment. The Prairie Line Trail at UWT Station, presented by Milt Tremblay and Lorna Mauren, University of Washington Tacoma and Metal Recycling & the Environment, presented by Louise Bray, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

First 2012 Economic Census Report Released

Thank you! Last year, the Chamber encouraged you about the importance of your participation in the 2012 Economic Census. The first report is now available.

The 2012 Economic Census Advance Report is available on the Census website, and in American FactFinder.  This report highlights national-level data for over 100 industry groups, including number of establishments, revenue, payroll and number of employees. Visit the Advance Report page to view the data.

Additional releases of detailed industry and geography statistics will be released over a two-year period, through June 2016.

Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Is the local economy bubbling over, still filling or draining? According to the 2014 survey, given at the Chamber’s annual Horizons Economic Forecast event, the glass is definitely beginning to fill.

According to respondents, none feel their company’s economic fortunes will be worse in 2014 that in 2013.  Fully two-thirds believe their company’s fortunes will be better than the previous year.  Those feeling the same about prospects are almost unchanged, but the shift has been up in those feeling that way too. That’s a ripple shift of about 5 to 9 percent, depending on category, from 2013 to 2014.
 
There is also a markedly positive feeling about the prospects for their firms hiring more employees, with those expecting more employees up 18%.  That improvement has come almost entirely from the 2013 category of those feeling they would have the same employment levels that year.

These feelings are somewhat at odds with respondents expectations for their personal economic situation.  Almost 58% feel their prospects will be the same, a slight improvement over 2013, but the upward movement in this expectation has come almost equally from 2013 of both those expecting better and worse for the coming year.