Business owners affected by the Rim Fire can file for extensions or relief from penalties related to 20 different types of taxes or fees they’d normally pay to the California Board of Equalization.
Board member George Runner says the state should relieve some of the immediate burden facing business owners threatened by the fire.
“Usually this is around a sales or use tax issue for most of these companies," says Runner. "We just need to let them know that there’s a process and a program for them to get issues delayed, to waive penalties, to do a lot of different kinds of things so that is one thing they just don’t have to be worrying about.” - George Runner, Member, CA Board of Equalization
Runner says it’s unknown how many businesses have been effected by the fire. Anyone who has been evacuated or had files destroyed can apply by phone or online for a reprieve from making payments.
Some of the taxes and fees are due monthly or quarterly and include fuel taxes, sales and use taxes, and the fire prevention fee. More than half of the fees fund programs that protect the environment.
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