SEC. 21.25. RELIEF FOR EARTHQUAKE INTERRUPTION.

(Added by Ord. No. 169,977, Eff. 9/3/94.)

(a) Any taxpayer whose business at any location was interrupted for a period of not less than sixty (60) consecutive days as a result of the earthquake of January 17, 1994, upon written application and proof of such interruption to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director of Finance, shall be deemed to have terminated said business at said location on December 31, 1993.

(b) Upon resumption of any business described in Subsection (a) of this section, if the business tax is an annual tax measured by gross receipts, gross production costs and gross receipts, gross cost of the work done, or gross receipts and salaries, wages, fees or other compensation paid, said business shall be deemed to be a newly established business subject to taxation in accordance with the provisions of Section 21.13(a)1 of this article, except that the measure of any additional tax for 1994 shall not commence prior to the date of resumption of said business.

(c) Upon resumption of any business described in Subsection (a) of this section, if the business tax is a flat rate for a year or a fractional part thereof, said tax shall be computed by multiplying the flat rate by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the resumption of the business through December 31 and the denominator of which is 365.

(Added by Ord. No. 188,506, Eff. 2/26/25.)

(a) Any taxpayer whose business location was destroyed by the wildfires beginning January 7, 2025, shall be deemed to have terminated such business at such destroyed location on December 31, 2024, subject to the approval of the Director of Finance based upon a written application which shall include proof of such destruction.

(b) Any taxpayer whose business experienced severe economic disruption for a period of not less than forty-five (45) cumulative days as a direct result of the wildfires, between January 7, 2025 through February 28, 2025, shall be deemed to have terminated such business on December 31, 2024, subject to the approval of the Director of Finance based upon a written application which shall include proof of such closure or impact. The Office of Finance shall promulgate rules and guidelines to effectuate Subsection (b).

(c) Upon the resumption of any business by a taxpayer described in Subsections (a) or (b), such business shall be deemed to be a newly established business subject to taxation in accordance with the provisions of Section 21.13, except that the measure of any additional tax for 2025 shall not commence prior to the date such business is resumed.

(d) Any business seeking relief pursuant to this Section shall submit a request to the Director of Finance on or before April 14, 2025.