Tell me about business taxes (Portland: home, neighborhood, live)

[scrubjay76]

Please tell me about small business taxes in the Portland, in Multnomah County, and in Oregon.

I've lived in Portland my whole life, and I've heard it thrown around that the city is not always friendly to business, but I don't know many particulars. Is it a tax thing, or does it have more to do with licensing and permitting?

No need to address the Street Fee. I've been following that issue in the news for months, and we already have a very well-visited thread about that topic anyway.

Thanks in advance!

[Nell Plotts]

I am long retired so it has been a while since I filed them but here is a quick & dirty summary: Oregon taxes businesses based on profits, there is/used to be an inventory tax. The city/county planning department can drive you nuts - fees are a pain but the killer is the administrative process if you need them to bless your use of land including driveways/parking. If you have a home based business in a residential zone you must apply for approval of the use, I don't recall that being a big deal unless you have customers or employees regularly coming to the home. Basically they don't want the business to be a nuisance to your neighbors or change the character of the neighborhood.

No other business activity taxes come to mind.