Alabama Department

of Revenue

Pointing You in the Right

Direction!
Presented to
North Alabama African American Chamber of
Commerce
October 18, 2016
Arleen Alexander, Governmental Relations Manager

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

In September 2014, through Executive

Order #47, Governor Robert Bentley
established the Alabama Small Business
Commission, an advisory body composed of
various individuals and representatives of
the small business community.
The Alabama Small Business Commission
also includes an Advisory Committee,
comprised of representatives of various
organizations and state agencies that have
an interest in the development of small
business in Alabama. Advisory Committee
members include Jerry Mitchell with the
Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

The purpose of the Small Business Commission

is to provide direct input to the Governor and
other officials on matters of significance to the
small business community.
It does so by:
Encouraging innovation
Discussing issues critical to the economic
growth and expansion of existing small /
independent businesses and their interests
Exploring best practices and areas of reform
Proposing recommendations for legislation
Assessing current procedures required for
establishing a start-up business in Alabama
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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

To accomplish this last directive, the Small

Business Commission recommended the
development of
Atlas Alabama.

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

Atlas Alabama is a website for entrepreneurs

and small business owners, which provides a
consolidated access point for basic information
on doing business in Alabama, including details
on licenses, taxes, loans, funding sources and
insurance.
In addition, Atlas Alabama features a
comprehensive list of national, state and local
resources that can also assist small business
owners.
The link** to Atlas Alabama is
www.atlasalabama.gov.
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www.revenue.alabama.gov

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

ATLAS ALABAMA HOME PAGE

Learn
Basics
Events
Insurance
Licenses & Taxes
Terms & Tips
Find Resources
Health Care
Financing
National Agencies
Safety & Health
Utilities
Search Directories
County
Municipality
State Agency
News

Provides Quick Access to Key Resources

Contact Info

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

Key Steps for Starting a Small Business

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

New Businesses are able

to:
Request State Income
Tax Withholding
Number
Obtain State Sales Tax
Number
Access City and County
Business Forms
Request City and
County Tax Rates
Learn about Federal
Taxes, Income Taxes
and FICA
Obtain an Employee
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Identification Number
Learn about the

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

Resources are
divided into
categories:
Healthcare
Financing
National Agencies
Safety & Health
Utilities
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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

Atlas Alabama contains

PDFs for each county in
Alabama, with local
resource contact
information including:
County Website
Small Business
Development Center
Taxpayer Service
Center
Licensing Offices
Chamber of
Commerce
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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

County
Landing
Page &
Portal

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

Email news articles to:

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CONTACT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Atlas Alabama

What other capabilities will Atlas

Alabama have in the future?
Additional State Agency portals and landing
pages
Fillable Forms for all Alabama business
categories/types
Step-by-step guide for mandatory state and local
business requirements
Searchable industry directory with regulatory
board information
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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers
(B.E.S.T.)
Starting a
New Business in Alabama

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

State tax obligations can sometimes be

confusing for business owners,
especially new business owners.
Business licenses, sales tax, property
tax, business privilege taxes, etc.
business owners are responsible for
many details.
To ease the burden of this task, the
Alabama Department of Revenue
developed the Business Essentials
for State Taxpayers or B.E.S.T.
Seminar and invites business owners

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

The B.E.S.T. Seminars include a brief

but comprehensive overview of
Alabamas business taxes; the business
owners tax obligations and the forms
that are required; and information on
electronic filing and other
requirements.
The B.E.S.T. Seminars assist new
business owners as they navigate their
way through unfamiliar tax
requirements, while updating current
business owners on recent changes to

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

The B.E.S.T. Seminar is comprised of four

sections:
1. Business Privilege Licenses, which covers
business licensing requirements;
2. Business Income Taxes, which includes
business privilege tax and employer
withholding taxes;
3. Business Personal Property Taxes, which
includes an introduction to OPPAL a new
online portal for submitting business
personal property tax returns;
4. Sales, Use, Rental and Lodgings Taxes,
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which includes information on local taxes

Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

B.E.S.T. Seminar attendees also receive

a plethora of resources to take home,
including:
A copy of the B.E.S.T. Seminar
presentation
ADORs Starting a New Business
booklet
The B.E.S.T. New Business Checklist
Handouts on How to Sign-Up to use
My Alabama Taxes (MAT), How to
Register for a New Account on MAT
and How to File a State Tax Return
using MAT

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

Local Examiners from each of the

four tax divisions make the
presentation.
The seminar is two-hours long and
has time available for question and
answers. Seminars are held quarterly
at each of ADORs nine Taxpayer
Service Centers located around the
State.
The B.E.S.T Seminar is free and
available to all business taxpayers -

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Alabama Department
of Revenue

Business Essentials for State

Taxpayers

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Thank you!

Arleen Alexander
Governmental Relations Manager
Alabama Department of Revenue
arleen.alexander@revenue.alabama.
gov
(334) 353-2369