Plan for Oakland, CA
Oakland Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements
What a business in Oakland keeps doing after it opens: recurring filings, renewals and the events that trigger new obligations. Change the business details to fit yours.
Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Where Oakland, CA filings and renewals are tracked
City of OaklandHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Alameda CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below). Checked 2026-10-16.
Local items to renew or file
- Register for and renew Oakland Business Tax Certificate · City of Oakland Finance Department, Business Tax Office (city)
- File Alameda County business personal property return · Alameda County Assessor (county)
- File the Alameda County transient occupancy tax return · Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector (county)
File and renew with these California agencies
- Annual reports: California Secretary of State
- Tax returns and payments: California Franchise Tax Board
- Unemployment insurance filings: California Employment Development Department
Renewals, filing triggers and recurring deadlines in Oakland
16 items in your plan repeat on a schedule. Each one lists its authority and when it comes due.
Recurring filings and renewals
- File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C · every year · April 15 · IRS
- Deposit federal payroll taxes · every month · 15th day of the following month · IRS
- File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) · every quarter · April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 · IRS
- File Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax) · every year · January 31 · IRS
- Issue Forms W-2 and file W-3 · every year · January 31 · IRS / SSA
- File Statement of Information (California) · every two years · Within the anniversary month and the 5 months before it, every 2 years · California Secretary of State
- Register for and file California entity-level taxes · every year · California Franchise Tax Board
- Pay California minimum franchise tax ($800) · every year · 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year (estimated); return due 15th day of 3rd/4th month after year end · California Franchise Tax Board
- File sales tax returns and remit tax (California) · every month · Monthly, quarterly or annually as assigned by the state · California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (California) · every quarter · California Employment Development Department
- State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave (employee-funded) · every quarter · California EDD
- File the annual unclaimed property holder report (California) · every year · October 31 · California unclaimed property program
- Obtain food service establishment / health permit · every year · Alameda County health department (California)
- City business tax certificate — Oakland, Alameda County, California · every year · City finance/business tax office: Oakland / Alameda County
- Register for and renew Oakland Business Tax Certificate · every year · March 1 (certificate expires December 31) · City of Oakland Finance Department, Business Tax Office
- File Alameda County business personal property return · every year · April 1 (penalty after May 7) · Alameda County Assessor
Filings triggered by an event
- Complete Form I-9 for each new hire: applies when Business has employees
- Report new hires to the California new hire directory: applies when 3 employees in California
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (California): applies when Business operates in CA
Find an obligationShowing 31 of 31 obligations
Federal
8
State
18
County
2
City
3
Common questions about Oakland
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Oakland:
- Contractor licensing: California Contractors State License Board
- Real estate licensing: California Department of Real Estate
- Alcohol licensing: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
- Child care licensing: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing
- Health facility licensing: California Department of Public Health
- Register for and renew Oakland Business Tax Certificate (City of Oakland Finance Department, Business Tax Office, city)
- File Alameda County business personal property return (Alameda County Assessor, county)
- File the Alameda County transient occupancy tax return (Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Seller's permit (California); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City business tax certificate — Oakland, Alameda County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Oakland; Register for and renew Oakland Business Tax Certificate. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov
In your plan for Oakland, requirements come from four levels. California sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
- State (18): Maintain a registered agent in California; File Statement of Information (California); Register for and file California entity-level taxes; Pay California minimum franchise tax ($800)…
- County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Alameda County business personal property return
- City (3): City business tax certificate — Oakland, Alameda County, California; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Oakland; Register for and renew Oakland Business Tax Certificate
Sources: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, ftb.ca.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with California Employment Development Department.
- Workers' compensation: California Division of Workers' Compensation. Required when: 1 employee
- State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave (employee-funded): applies from 1 employee.
- Register to withhold California income tax from wages.
- Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the California new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (California); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required California workplace notices.
Sources: edd.ca.gov, dir.ca.gov, edd.ca.gov