414,547
U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 sub-county estimates (sub-est2024.csv), July 1, 2024
Hillsborough CountyCity of Tampa (city BTR) + Hillsborough County Tax Collector (county receipt)
Tampa business license: do you need a business tax receipt?
Tampa has about 415,000 residents and is the largest city in Hillsborough County, near Temple Terrace, Plant City, and St. Petersburg across the bay. A Tampa business needs a City of Tampa Business Tax Receipt as well as the Hillsborough County receipt. The city's new-receipt application is the first step for a new business, and the city may require an on-site inspection before it issues one. The city's business tax line is 813-274-8751. For the county receipt, you apply through the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's BTExpress portal. You'll need a physical Hillsborough address (no P.O. boxes), your EIN or SSN, and a detailed description of what you sell. Staff review it within 3 to 5 business days, and the county charges a half-year rate for new receipts issued from April 1 through June 30.
Occupational license vs. business tax receipt in Tampa
Tampa has an estimated 414,547 residents (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024), ranking #3 among Florida's incorporated places. It sits in Hillsborough County, and businesses here file with the same state office as everywhere else in Florida: the Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).
How to start a business in Tampa: LLC, corporation or PLLC
State filing fees are the same everywhere in Florida. See the full cost and steps in our Start a Business in Florida guide.
Tampa business license FAQs
Do I need a Tampa business license (business tax receipt)?
Yes. Inside Tampa city limits you need a City of Tampa business tax receipt and the Hillsborough County business tax receipt.
Is a Tampa occupational license the same as a business tax receipt?
Yes. Florida law renamed the old occupational license the local business tax in 2006, so a business tax receipt, an occupational license and a local business license all mean the same thing in Florida (Chapter 205, Florida Statutes).
How much does it cost to form a business in Tampa?
Sunbiz state fees are the same anywhere in Florida: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation. Local business tax receipts are separate.
Which county is Tampa in?
Hillsborough County.
Should my Tampa business be an LLC, a corporation or a PLLC?
Most small businesses choose an LLC for its simple management and pass-through taxes. A corporation suits owners who plan to issue stock or bring in investors. A PLLC is for state-licensed professionals such as doctors, lawyers and CPAs. All three file with Sunbiz: $125 for an LLC or PLLC and $70 for a corporation.