New Business Owners

Ask for help

Our office is here to assist you with business property taxation matters.  

Please do not hesitate to contact our office to determine whether or not you have assessable business assets and should receive a Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) for the current year.

Business Personal Property

Businesses in the City & County of San Francisco are required by California State Law to annually file the Business Property Statement (Form 571-L), which identifies the acquisition cost of their business personal property (i.e. equipment, furniture, computers, etc.) and improvements (i.e. leasehold/tenant improvements, trade fixtures etc.) to the Assessor and are responsible for the potential taxes on that property. The State Constitution says all property is subject to property tax.

Business personal property is appraised annually.  If you are a registered business in the City & County of San Francisco and you’ve received a Business Property Statement (Form 571-L), this statement must be completed and submitted by the date indicated.  It is important to note that a 10% penalty will be applied if the statement is not received by the Assessor-Recorder’s Office by the due date. Business owners should report their business inventory, application software, and licensed motor vehicles are all exempt.

State law requires that at least once each four (4) years the Assessor’s Office audit the books and records of a significant number of businesses. Other entities are audited on a random basis or when requested by the taxpayer.

I have registered my business with the Treasurer & Tax Collector, what should I expect next?

The Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector will share your business registration information with the Office of the Assessor-Recorder.

After receiving your business registration information, the Assessor-Recorder will generate an account number and PIN, and mail you a Notice of Requirement to File Form 571-L, in February, so that you can declare all assessable business property situated in this county which you owned, claimed, possessed, controlled or managed on the tax lien date.

If you did not receive a Notice of Requirement to File a Form 571-L, following your registration, please contact our office by calling 628-652-8100 or email us at askbpp@sfgov.org.

Get help from the Office of Small Business

The Office of Small Business is San Francisco's central point of information for small businesses. They have information online and staff ready to help you start, operate and grow a business. Visit their website, call 415-554-6134 or email sfosb@sfgov.org.