- Who handles it
- Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, plus the city Tax Collector's office where the business sits inside a city
- What you file
- Notice of change of ownership with the old receipt, and the buyer's receipt application
- When
- Around closing, before the buyer operates under the new name or owner
Easy to miss: A county receipt does not replace a city receipt. A business inside a city usually holds both.
What the Receipt Is
Miami-Dade County requires most businesses to hold a Local Business Tax Receipt, renewed each year. It is a tax receipt more than a licence test, but without it a company can face penalties and trouble with inspectors.
Businesses inside a city usually need a second receipt from that city. Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Doral each run their own, and fees and transfer rules differ from place to place.
Can It Pass to a Buyer
The county's Tax Collector says receipts can be transferred when ownership, location or trade name changes, as long as the office is told and the proper paperwork is filed.
Some city codes are stricter, and some limit transfers for certain categories.
Because rules differ, ask both offices what they require instead of assuming the old receipt carries over.
What the Seller Does
- Find the current receipt and confirm it is paid up for the year
- Give the buyer the original so the transfer can be filed
- Tell the county in writing that ownership changed, as the office asks
- Close any receipt that will not move, and keep proof
Keeping proof matters, because renewal notices can keep arriving in your name long after you sold.
What the Buyer Does
The buyer applies for the receipt, or the transfer, in the new owner's name and confirms any zoning or inspection step for the address.
Professionals who need a state license usually must show it. Buyers who change the company's name should say so on the application.
It is wise to put the receipt steps in the purchase agreement, with a date for each party and a plan for any fee.
Where It Fits in the Closing
The lease must also be settled, because the receipt is tied to the address. Read lease assignment and landlord consent next.
Owners with equipment should check the tangible personal property return, and restaurants must plan the liquor license transfer.
Common Snags
The usual problems are an expired receipt, a change in the kind of business that the old receipt does not cover, and an address that needs a zoning check. Regulated trades may also need proof of a state license before the receipt is issued.
Ask each office for a written list of what it needs. A short call early often saves a long delay at closing, when the buyer wants to open under the new name on day one.
Sources and Confirming the Details
The Miami-Dade Tax Collector publishes its receipt rules and takes calls on the local business tax line, and each city posts its own code online.
This page is general information, not tax or legal advice, so confirm the steps with your CPA or attorney.
When you are ready to learn what your company might bring, request a private estimate.