Forsyth County business license renewal runs from December 1 through March 31 each year, and you can complete it online through the Customer Self Service portal or by mail with two notarized affidavits and a check.1Forsyth County Georgia. About the Business License Department The tax you owe depends on how many employees you have, and there is a flat $50 administrative fee on top.2Forsyth County Georgia. Occupation Tax Ordinance This applies to businesses in unincorporated Forsyth County; cities inside the county run their own licensing.
Renewal Deadline and Late Penalties
The window opens December 1 and closes at 5:00 p.m. on March 31 of the following year. Anything received after that is subject to penalties and interest.3Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Renewal Application
Georgia law allows counties to add a 10 percent penalty on the unpaid tax once the balance has sat unpaid for 90 days past the due date, plus interest of up to 1.5 percent per month on the delinquent balance.4Justia. Georgia Code 48-13-21 – Penalty for Failure to Pay Tax or Fee Interest keeps compounding until you pay, and operating without a valid certificate can also draw a citation. The county emails a custom pre-filled renewal form to every existing license holder on December 1 from businesslicense@forsythco.com, so watch your inbox (including spam) early in the month.5Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Applications
What You’ll Pay
Forsyth County bases the occupational tax on employee count, not gross receipts. The schedule in the county ordinance:2Forsyth County Georgia. Occupation Tax Ordinance
- 1 employee: $75
- 2 employees: $150
- 3 to 9 employees: $150 plus $12.50 per employee over 2
- 10 to 99 employees: $237.50 plus $15 per employee over 9
- 100 to 499 employees: $1,587.50 plus $17.50 per employee over 99
- 500 or more: $8,587.50 plus $20 per employee over 499
Add the $50 nonrefundable administrative fee to whatever the schedule produces. A five-person business, for example, owes $150 plus $37.50 (three extra employees at $12.50) plus the $50 fee, totaling $237.50. Count your employees before you start the form; the number drives the whole calculation.
Paying online by credit or debit card adds a 3.55 percent convenience fee, with a $2.50 minimum. Electronic check payments may avoid that surcharge.6Forsyth County Georgia. Important Notice Regarding Credit Card, Debit Card and Electronic Convenience Fees
The Two Affidavits You Must Submit
Every renewal requires two notarized affidavits. The county will not process an incomplete package.
Lawful Presence Affidavit
Georgia treats an occupational tax certificate as a public benefit, so the person applying must swear they are a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a qualified alien with a valid DHS alien number.7Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Code 50-36-1 – Verification Requirements, Procedures, and Conditions You also have to present a secure and verifiable document (a U.S. passport, driver’s license, or permanent resident card, for instance). The blank form lives on the county’s Business License Applications page.
Private Employer Affidavit (E-Verify)
Under O.C.G.A. ยง 36-60-6, you confirm either that your business uses the federal E-Verify work authorization program or that it falls outside the requirement.8Justia. Georgia Code 36-60-6 – Utilization of Federal Work Authorization Program If you use E-Verify, you need your federal work authorization user ID number and your authorization date. The company ID is four to seven digits, printed on each page of your E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding below the E-Verify logo.9E-Verify. How Do Corporate Administrators Find the Company ID Number? Employers with fewer than 11 workers can instead attest on the same affidavit that they fall outside E-Verify’s scope. Either version has to be notarized.
Renewing Online Through the CSS Portal
The quickest route is the Customer Self Service portal at css.forsythco.com.10Forsyth County Georgia. Customer Self Service Portal If you don’t already have an account, register for a free one; the county posts step-by-step registration instructions on its Business License Applications page.5Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Applications Once you’re in, you can fill out the renewal, upload both notarized affidavits, pay the tax, and print the issued certificate.
If you lost the December email, you can pull a fresh copy of the pre-filled form from your portal account.
Renewing by Mail or In Person
Prefer paper? Send the completed renewal form, both notarized affidavits, and a check for the full amount to:
Forsyth County Business License Division
2435 Freedom Pkwy, Suite 1500
Cumming, GA 300411Forsyth County Georgia. About the Business License Department
You can also drop the package off in person at the same address during business hours. Make the check payable to Forsyth County. Note that renewals can go through the portal, but new applications have to come in by mail or in person; the county does not accept applications by email.5Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Applications Questions go to (678) 455-9888 or businesslicense@forsythco.com.1Forsyth County Georgia. About the Business License Department
Displaying the Renewed Certificate
After the renewal is processed, post the certificate in a conspicuous spot at your place of business.2Forsyth County Georgia. Occupation Tax Ordinance If you have no permanent location in the county, keep it available to show the revenue collection office on request. You can reprint it from the CSS portal any time.
If Your Address Changed Since Last Year
A new address, a new suite number, or an expansion into additional space requires a Business Location Verification through the CSS portal before you renew.5Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Applications If only the mailing address changed and the physical location is the same, use the Mailing Address Change Application on the same page instead. Handle the location update first; renewing before updating can tie the new certificate to the old address.
Closing a License Instead of Renewing
If the business has shut down or moved out of unincorporated Forsyth County, don’t just skip the renewal. The owner has to submit the county’s Business Closing Application regardless of why the business is closing.5Forsyth County Georgia. Business License Applications Leave the account open and the renewal notices (and potential penalties on unpaid tax) keep coming for a business you no longer run.