Helena is a self-administered municipality. Any taxpayer who wishes to file paper returns should do so directly with the City Finance Department. If you wish to file online returns for the City of Helena, you may use the State of Alabama ONESPOT System/MAT to file Sales, Use and Lease/Rental tax types. Online returns are filed at myalabamataxes.alabama.gov – please use your taxpayer identification number issued to you by the City of Helena. If you are unsure of your number please contact the Finance Department.  We can be reached at the number listed on this page or at taxadmin@cityofhelena.org. If you are filing an initial return online, please be sure to complete an account application first so that we may issue an account number to your company and ensure correct posting of your return and payment. Applications and forms are available on this site for your convenience.

Forms are available for download on this website. You will need to complete the Sales/Use/Lease Tax Application form and you may also download a Tax Report for your first remittance. Once your application is received, your account will be set up and forms with your account information will be sent to you.

If you are set up as an “Occasional” filer, you file returns only for the months that you have remittance. If you are “Monthly”, “Quarterly”, or “Annual” you must file for each period, even if you have a “Zero” return.

A business license or tax account is non-transferable. If your FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) changes, you must re-apply for a business license or tax account. Other changes to your account (name change, address change, etc…) may be put in writing and faxed, mailed or e-mailed to the Finance Department.

For tax related accounts please email taxadmin@cityofhelena.org.   For business licenses please email kym@cityofhelena.org

If a company wishes to engage in door-to-door or store-to-store solicitation they must register with the City of Helena. Once a company has completed the application process with the city they may pull permits/badges on a day-by-day basis. The language from City of Helena Ordinance 734-07 Amended (effective October 1,2015) as it pertains to solicitation is listed below:

Schedule “DD” – One Day License Peddlers, Transients For Licensing of:

1. Peddlers selling door-to-door or store-to-store: Issued for single day sales activity.
   a.   Hours: 9am to dusk or 6:00 pm, whichever occurs first
   b.   Each Peddler must wear a badge, obtained from the City, identifying him/herself as a licensed solicitor at all times while engaging in sales activity.
   c.    Residential “No Soliciting” Notices
   i.   Residents may indicate their desire not to have solicitors call on their home by giving notice of the desire to refuse solicitors by displaying a clearly visible weatherproof placard no smaller than ninety-four(94) square inches and no larger than two hundred and twenty (220) square inches stating “No Soliciting” which shall be posted on or near the main entrance of the private property.
   ii.   The display of said placard shall be deemed to constitute notice to any solicitor that the inhabitant of the residence does not desire to invite solicitors.
   d.    Penalties:  Any person violating any provision of this Ordinance will be subject to revocation with cause without recourse.
   e.    Subject to approval and restrictions of the Police Department and is subject to revocation with cause without recourse.
   f.    Severability: In any word, provision, clause, sentence, paragraph, or subsection of this amendment or application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid by court of competent jurisdiction then the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect.

$20 plus cost of badge, Badge fee – $5.00 each

*The standard issue fee authorized by the State of Alabama is enforced on all licenses issued by the City of Helena.

EFFECTIVE 10/1/2010:

Residents who base business activities out of their homes may be required to obtain a Home Occupation License. For information regarding Home Occupation License requirements and regulations please look over applicable section of the City of Helena Zoning Ordinance. This section is attached below; please click the link.

If you wish to be considered for a Home Occupation License please print, complete, and return both the Home Occupation Application and the Business Application (see links below). You may mail the completed forms to:
City of Helena
Home Occupations

P.O. Box 613
Helena, AL 35080-0613

If you wish to email the completed documents please send them to kym@cityofhelena.org
*You will be notified of approval, questions or comments within 2 business days from your submission date.

Home Occupation Ordinance 767-10

Home Occupation App

Business License App