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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Business License & TaxUtility Billing & Collection Online Payments (Click-2-Gov)FinanceUtility Billing & Collection
Business License & Tax
Who must obtain a business license?Please see the Business License Checklist for further information. Back to topWhy are business taxes assessed? To help fund government services such as police, fire, streets, parks, economic developments and general administration.Back to topWhen do business taxes come due? With few exceptions, taxes are due within 30 days following the end of a business license/permit period. Most licenses are renewed quarterly and some on an annual basis. Tax return forms are provided by the city. Late fees of at least 20 percent are assessed for tax balances not paid by the due date based on postmark. This percentage is cumulative and applied to every 30 day period [not to exceed three [3] periods or 90 days].Back to topHow are business taxes determined? Taxes are either flat rate or based on gross receipts dependent upon appropriate tax code classification assigned at time of application by information provided. The tax return will provide specific instructions of how to determine the proper taxes due. Back to topWhere are business taxes paid? If tax return cannot be mailed and postmarked by the due date, you can bring it to our office in Fresno City Hall anytime between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Back to topHow do I update my tax records or get information?Most transactions can be accomplished by phone [559-621-6880]. There may be certain aspects of a transaction on your tax account that may require your presence. Additional taxes and/or permit fees may be required if your business is located and/or covered within certain code jurisdictions such as hotels and motels, taxicabs, cardroom, dance halls, billiard rooms, mobile food vendors to name a few. Back to topAdditional Information• City of Fresno Finance Department 2600 Fresno Street, Room 2156, 621-7001, FAX 488-4636
• City of Fresno Planning and Development Department/Zoning 2600 Fresno Street, Room 3043 621-8111
• State of California Board of Equalization 5070 N. Sixth Street, Suite 110 248-4219
• County Clerk Fictitious Names 2221 Kern Street 488-3003 Back to top
Utility Billing & Collection Online Payments (Click-2-Gov)
How soon does my payment show up?As soon as you make a payment and get an authorization it will show up as a pending payment on your account.Back to topCan I pay at anytime online?For the most part the system is available at any hour. The only time it may not be available is when there is system maintenance being done. The times are listed when that occurs.Back to topI'd like to pay using my checking account. Can I do this?We do not take e-checks at this time but if you have a check card or debit card that has the Visa or MasterCard logo you can use that to pay online.Back to topCan I use my American Express or Discover card?At this time those cards are not available to make payments online.Back to topIf I have more than one account, can I have one logon to pay all my utility bills at once?Our next release will allow a consolidated logon so that you can tie all your accounts to one login.Back to topI'd like to set it up to have my bill automatically paid every time I get billed. How can I do this?At this time it is not available but should be sometime in the future.Back to topCan I pay for a building permit and my utility bill at the same time?No, the building permit application is separate so you must log into each area individually.Back to topI have tried to make a payment and it tells me the card has been denied. What can I do?Please contact your bank in this situation.Back to topCan I be sent a reminder when my new bill is due?A future release should have this ability.Back to topCan you send me an electronic version of my bill instead of a physical copy?This should be available in a future release. At this time you will continue to receive a physical bill in the mail.Back to topCan I make changes to my account, such as a mailing address change?The system does not allow changes but you can click on the help button and fill out the form that pops up.Back to topI can't seem to find my PIN. Where do I find it?Your initial PIN is located on your bill in the lower right hand corner of the bill. It is only on your blue bill and not on any delinquent notices.Back to top
Finance
Utility Billing & Collection
Where can I pay my utility bill?Your City of Fresno Utility bill can be paid in the Utilities Billing and Collection Division located inside City Hall on the first floor. City Hall is located on P Street, between Tulare and Fresno Streets. Our lobby business hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your Utility bill can also be paid at our Manchester office located on the south end of Manchester Mall, north of the Red Robin Restaurant. Office hours for the Manchester office are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Payment may also be made by credit card over the phone. For more information contact the Utilities Billing and Collection Division at (559)621-6888.Back to topWhat is the watering schedule for the City of Fresno?Watering Days Summer Schedule March 2 - November 30 Days -- Customers with addresses ending with odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Customers with addresses ending with even numbers (0,2,4,6,8) may water on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Hours -- Customers may water during the hours of midnight to 6 a.m., 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 7 p.m. to midnight. Winter Schedule December 1 - March 1 Customers with addresses ending with odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) may water on Saturdays. Customers with addresses ending with even numbers (2,4,6,8,0) may water on Sundays. Hours -- Customers may water lawns and other outdoor landscape anytime only on their scheduled days. For more information on Fresno watering schedules and water conservation, please visit Water Management at: Water ManagementBack to topIf I receive a 48 hour notice, can I mail in the payment?No. Payment must be brought in to the City Hall Utilities Office or the Manchester Office only. We advise you not send in payment by mail because there is no guarantee that we will receive the payment before the service is shut off.Back to topIf I receive a 48 hour notice by mail, how long do you allow for payment?48 hours from receipt of the notice.Back to topWhen is Operation Cleanup in my area?Call Community Sanitation at (559)621-1447 for the scheduled time in your area.Back to topWho or what department can I call if the street sweeper doesn't come on my street?Call Community Sanitation at (559)621-1447 for information regarding street sweeping.Back to topWhy was my trash not picked up?There may have been a problem with the location of the container or the time it was put out. The disposal driver will usually leave a notice describing the problem. Call Solid Waste at (559)621-1452 if you have any questions.Back to topSince my trash wasn't picked up, will I get a credit or will my bill be prorated?No. If your service was skipped and called in, it should be picked up by the end of that day or the next working day. Since the service was provided, no adjustment will be made to the bill.Back to topHow do I get a 64 gallon container? How long should it take to receive it?Call Utilities Customer Service at (559)621-6888 to change the size of your trash can. It usually takes 3-5 days for delivery.Back to topWhat is the minimum payment required to keep my water service on?Any past due balance including late charges must be paid to avoid interruption of service.Back to topWhen will I get my refund check?Usually within 30 days after the account is closed.Back to topWhat are my scheduled trash pick up days?Call Utilities Customer Service at (559)621-6888 for trash pick up days. Call Solid Waste at (559)621-1452 if your trash wasn't picked up.Back to topWhy doesn't the senior citizen discount show on my statement?It shows in the form of a lower charge for water and sewer, it is not shown as a separate line item.Back to topWhy was my senior citizen discount discontinued?Your eligibility for the discount may have changed. If you are no longer the customer of record, or if more than three people reside at the residence, you may no longer qualify for the discount. If you have recently moved, the discount may not have been transferred to your new address. Please call (559)621-6888 for details.Back to topWhy are utility bills for two months rather than one?We are able to keep costs down because we save money on postage, supplies, and staff time with bi-monthly billing.Back to topDid you receive my payment? What is the balance on my account?For payment and account balance information, please call Utilities Customer Service at (559)621-6888.Back to topWhy doesn't the $3.00 late charge show up on the 48 hour notice?The 48 hour notice reflects only delinquent charges. The late charge will not be delinquent until it is left unpaid by the next cycle bill delinquent date.Back to topWhy am I still charged if my water is off?If the water was shut off for non-payment and the property is occupied, most services are still used. Therefore, we continue to bill for all of the services.Back to topWhat is a back flow device?It is a state mandated device placed on specific types of water users to protect the City water supply. If the water pressure in the area or in a building drops, the used wastewater already in the building can flow back in to the main water system. The back flow device is in place to prevent this.Back to topWill I be paid interest on my deposit?No. Back to topWhat do I need to do to get my water turned on?If you are a new customer, a deposit and/or rental agreement and personal information for the application is required. If the service is shut off for non-payment, payment in full is required. Call (559)621-6888 to get additional information.Back to topCan I make a payment arrangement on a returned check?No, payment of the check must be made in full.Back to topCan I pay a returned check with another check?No, returned checks must be paid in full by cash or money order in the office, either at City Hall or Manchester Center.Back to topWho do I call to get new recycling containers? Why wasn't my recycling container picked up?Call the recycling hotline at (559)621-1111. For more information on recycling visit Solid Waste Recycling at: Solid WasteBack to topWhat are the Utilities rates in the City of Fresno?Customers in the City of Fresno are billed bi-monthly for Water, Sewer, Solid Waste, and Community Sanitation. Single Family homes are billed using a flat rate. The size of the trash can and the square footage of the property will affect the rate. Commercial and Multi-residential properties are billed using a metered rate for water. The size of the trash container will also affect the rate.Back to top
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