A Business Privilege License is required by all businesses wishing to do business within the City of Bethlehem. The annual license fee is $25.00 and the license period runs fromMay 1st through April 30th. The Mercantile tax is levied at 1.5 mils on retail sales, service and rentals ($1.50 per $1,000.00 of business).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARTISTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD A BETHLEHEM BUSINESS PRIVILEGE LICENSE:
Artists who have previously registered with the City of Bethlehem and received a Business Privilege license number will be mailed a combined license renewal and tax return form in March. They will pay $25 if they wish to renew the Business Privilege license (period is May – April) and pay the mercantile tax on their sales for the previous year.
If an artist did not receive their renewal/return form in the mail, they can call Tri-State Financial Group at 610-993-8609 to request it.
The $25 renewal fee and the tax are due by May 5th each year. The license period runs May – April. The tax is owed on the total of the previous year’s sales.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARTISTS WHO HAVE NEVER HAD A BETHLEHEM BUSINESS PRIVILEGE LICENSE:
Artists who have never registered for a Bethlehem Business Privilege license can download the Business Privilege license application form at this link:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/admin/forms/ApplicationBusiness-MercantileLicense.pdf
Artists must mail the form and the $25 fee to Tri-State Financial Group as indicated on the form. This should be done before May.
Tri-State Financial Group will mail a Business Privilege license to the artist. The license is valid May of the current year – April of the following year. In March, the artist will be mailed a combined renewal and tax return form. They will pay $25 if they wish to renew the Business Privilege license, and pay the mercantile tax on their sales for the previous year.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The contact person at the Bethlehem Tax Bureau is Elizabeth Rosario, 610-865-7022
Alternate contact: Tri-State Financial Group, 610-993-8609
Link to City of Bethlehem tax licenses and forms page:
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/admin/tax.html
Links to Business Privilege and Mercantile Tax information and forms are located in the “Tax Forms” box.
