Flag_of_Alabama.svg
An official website of the Alabama State government.
Here's how you know

The .gov means it's official

Government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on an official government site.

The site is secure

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

  • Homepage
  • >
  • What licenses and permits are necessary and what are the fees?

What licenses and permits are necessary and what are the fees?

City and County officials will determine what local licenses and permits are necessary. A variety of business privilege licenses are administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue which affect proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations as well as certain professions. Fees vary dependent upon the type of license required, and, in some cases, upon the population of the area where the business is located or upon the volume of business. It is important to be aware that one business may require several different types of business privilege licenses depending upon the services offered or products sold by the business.

A credit card transaction fee is a charge added to the regular price of an item by a retailer when the purchaser pays for the item using a credit card. Other names for this fee include swipe fee, credit card surcharge, processing fee, service charge, or convenience fee.

These fees are subject to sales and use tax and should be included in the seller’s gross sales on retail transactions when calculating tax due. Example: A sale of tangible personal property totals $100. The customer pays with a credit card and is charged a $3 credit card transaction fee. The total price of $103, including the credit card transaction fee, is subject to sales and use taxes.

A credit card fee, even if separately stated, is part of the retailer’s cost of doing business, and the entire consideration for the sale of tangible personal property is subject to sales and use taxes.

If a transaction consists of only non-taxable goods or services, the credit card transaction fee is not subject to sales and use taxes. Example: A customer is charged $50 for a haircut. The customer pays with a credit card and is charged a $3 credit card transaction fee. Since the haircut is not subject to sales and use taxes, the corresponding credit card transaction fee is not subject to sales and use taxes.

    • You must train a minimum of 30 hours each year through either of these methods:
      • Participate in organized training in a class approved for use in fire service or emergency medical services in providing service as a firefighter.
      • Participate in organized training in a class approved for use in rescue squad and emergency medical services in providing service as a rescue squad member.
    • The Volunteer Emergency Responders Tax Credit is a tax credit available to a qualified volunteer firefighter or a qualified rescue squad member. To be qualified, you must meet certain criteria as a volunteer firefighter or an emergency medical technician or paramedic and obtain certain approved training each year.
    • Individuals may be required to substantiate that eligibility requirements have been met for each year in which the credit is claimed.
    • You should report the approved credit amount on the Schedule OC when you file your Alabama tax return.
    • ALDOR will review and verify credit requests in the order that they are received. We will send an email and/or My Alabama Taxes message to the email address/account used to submit the credit request when this process is complete.
      • If the credit amount requested is reduced or if the credit request is disallowed, we will provide additional information  through My Alabama Taxes.
    • If approved, you should claim the amount approved on your Alabama tax return.
    • You can obtain a copy of the certificate at Forms.