(A) Except as provided in division (B) below, every person or business entity engaged in any business for profit and any person or business entity that is required to make a filing with the Internal Revenue Service or the State Revenue Cabinet shall be required to file and pay to the county an occupational license fee for the privilege of engaging in such activities within the county. The occupational license that shall be measured by 1% of:
(1) All wages and compensation paid or payable in the county for work done or services performed or rendered in the county by every resident and nonresident who is an employee; and
(2) The net profit from business conducted in the county by a resident or nonresident business entity.
(a) If the amount to be remitted is less than $25, the entity shall instead remit the sum of $25 for the calendar year.
(b) That any entity that submits a net profit return which reflects zero net profit, or a loss shall still be required to submit the minimum sum as set forth herein.
(B) All partnerships, S corporations and all other entities where income is “passed through” to the owners are subject to this chapter. The occupational license fee imposed in this chapter is assessed against income before it is “passed through” these entities to the owners.
(C) If any business entity dissolves, ceases to operate or withdraws from the county during any taxable year, or if any business entity in any manner surrenders or loses its charter during any taxable year, the dissolution, cessation of business, withdrawal or loss or surrender of charter shall not defeat the filing of returns and the assessment and collection of any occupational license fee for the period of that taxable year during which the business entity had business activity in the county.
(D) If a business entity makes, or is required to make, a federal income tax return, the occupational license fee shall be computed for the purposes of this chapter on the basis of the same calendar or fiscal year required by the federal government, and shall employ the same methods of accounting required for federal income tax purposes.
(E) The occupational license fee imposed in this section shall not apply to the following persons or business entities:
(1) Any bank, trust company, combined bank and trust company, combined trust, banking and title business organized and doing business in this state, any savings and loan association whether state or federally chartered;
(2) Any compensation received by members of the State National Guard for active duty training, unit training assemblies and annual field training;
(3) Any compensation received by precinct workers for election training or work at election booths in state, county and local primary, regular or special elections;
(4) Public service corporations that pay an ad valorem tax on property valued and assessed by the State Department of Revenue pursuant to the provisions of KRS 136.20. Licensees whose businesses are predominantly non-public service who are also engaged in public service activity are required to pay a license fee on their net profit derived from the non-public service activities apportioned to the county;
(5) Persons or business entities that have been issued a license under KRS Chapter 243 to engage in manufacturing or trafficking in alcoholic beverages. Persons engaged in the business of manufacturing or trafficking in alcoholic beverages are required to file a return, but may exclude the portion of their net profits derived from the manufacturing or trafficking alcoholic beverages;
(6) Commonwealth of Kentucky, except as provided in KRS 91A.080;
(7) Any profits, earnings, distributions of an investment fund which would qualify under KRS 154.20-250 to 154.20-284 to the extent any profits, earnings or distributions would not be taxable to an individual investor; and
(8) Compensation received for the renting or leasing of only one residential rental unit shall be exempt from the occupational license fee.
(Ord. 2-02-08-05, passed 2-8-2005; Ord. 9.22.20.2, passed 9-22-2020)