Businesses operating within the city limits of Seneca are required to purchase a City of Seneca
business license. A business license is an excise tax on the privilege of doing business in a
municipality or county and not a sales, income or property tax. It is a method of requiring a
business or occupation to contribute its share in support of the government “as it regards the
profits or advantages of such occupations.”
The license must be computed on gross income pursuant to state law without deductions. It
does not apply to those who work for wages or salary.
Fees are based on the rate class associated with the North American Industrial Classification
System (NAICS) 2012 edition. Please contact our office at 864-885-2700 for correct
classification of your business or use this link for the US Census website:
https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/All new businesses located within the city limits must obtain a City of Seneca business license
before opening for business. All City of Seneca business licenses expire April 30th.
Taxpayers are not exempt from a license tax simply because no notice or application was
mailed to them. Every business operator is presumed to have knowledge of the law applicable
to the business.
Penalties: Due to the COVID-19, the City of Seneca is extending the 2020
Business License due date to Monday, June 1, 2020. A 5% penalty per month
will be added to any business license fees not paid by Monday, June 1,2020 on
all businesses located within the city limits of Seneca.
Confidentiality: The City of Seneca realizes that a business’s financial
information is confidential. It is the City’s policy to keep all financial
information on all business licenses confidential as well.