Senate Bill 2150

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-17-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO REDUCE OR WAIVE THE AMOUNT IMPOSED AS A TAX TO SECURE A PRIVILEGE LICENSE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 27-17-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-17-9. (1) Every person desiring to engage in any business, or exercise any privilege hereinafter specified, if such business is located outside a municipality, shall first, before commencing the same, apply for, pay for and procure from the tax collector of the county in which such business is located, or if such business is located within a municipality, shall apply for, pay for and procure from the tax collector of the municipality, a privilege license authorizing him to engage in the business or exercise the privileges specified therein, and the amount of tax shown in subsection (2) of this section, except as otherwise specifically established in this chapter, is hereby imposed for the privilege of engaging or continuing in the business set out therein.

(2) (a) The amount of a privilege license shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) annually for a business having three (3) or fewer employees.

(b) The amount of a privilege license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00) annually for a business having more than three (3) but fewer than eleven (11) employees.

(c) The amount of a privilege license shall be Thirty Dollars ($30.00) annually plus an additional assessment of Three Dollars ($3.00) for each employee over ten (10) employees, not to exceed a maximum payment of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00), for a business (other than a manufacturer) having eleven (11) or more employees.

(d) The amount of a privilege license shall be Eighty Dollars ($80.00) annually for a manufacturer having eleven (11) or more employees; manufacturers having ten (10) or fewer employees shall pay an annual privilege license pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection (2), whichever is applicable.

(3) The governing authority of any county or municipality, in its sole discretion, by order duly spread upon the minutes, may reduce or waive on a fiscal year basis the amount otherwise imposed in this chapter for any category of privilege license or privilege license tax.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.