Mayor announces extension of Louisville Metro occupational tax filing, payment deadlines

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission (LMRC) will extend the 2019 annual occupational license tax filing and payment deadline from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020.

The extension is for all taxpayers, including those who filed quarterly estimated deposits in 2019 and those who pay once a year. LMRC also has shifted the April 15, 2020 quarterly deposit deadline to May 15, 2020 for entities required to file a quarterly estimated payment. All other LMRC deadlines will remain in place.

“We want to do all we can to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and support our businesses and residents,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “The Revenue Commission will continue to work closely with Louisville Forward, the KYCPA, GLI, and Louisville Independent Business Alliance to ensure that these changes are communicated consistently throughout the business community.”

The commission has approximately 100,000 active occupational license tax accounts, and roughly 82,000 of those accounts represent local small businesses that file once a year. The extension follows the federal government’s decision to allow all taxpayers to defer filing and payments of federal income tax from April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020.

“We agree with the federal government’s decision to delay the tax deadline to keep more money in the economy as a form of stimulus, but a big difference between the federal government and local/state governments is the ability to deficit spend. We have to balance our books annually and still be able to fund the first responders and public health officials who are fighting on the ground to secure our safety,” said Louisville Metro Government CFO Daniel Frockt.

In accordance with guidance from Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, the LMRC will no longer take walk-in appointments. Anyone with questions can contact LMRC staff at (502) 574-4860 or [email protected].

Update on COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County

Mayor Fischer updated the community on actions that Louisville Metro Government has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For information about the city’s efforts and the latest updates, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/news/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus.

As of this morning, Kentucky has a total of 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 28 confirmed cases in Louisville.

Homeless populations

Chief of Community Building Vincent James provided updates on efforts to ensure the health and safety of our homeless populations.

“We currently have no known confirmed cases among our unsheltered population. However, it’s critical we plan for that eventuality,” James said.

Beginning tomorrow, James said, the Family Health Centers - Phoenix will identify appropriate shelters for homeless individuals who have been ordered to isolate or quarantine. The center will begin taking referrals from medical professionals and referring these individuals to existing shelters that have available isolation or quarantine space.

Later this week, a shelter will be established at the Salvation Army Joy Center to house all those who need to be in isolation or quarantine.

Louisville Metro Government also has partnered with the Salvation Army to establish an additional shelter at the Salvation Army Louisville Area Command Center, which will be able to house up to 150 single males.

“It is important for everyone to practice social distancing, which means our existing shelters have less space than usual to house our homeless population. I want to thank the Salvation Army for stepping up to add shelters to ensure that members of our homeless population have a safe place to stay,” Mayor Fischer said.

Communications to businesses that are still operating

In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andy Beshear issued orders requiring food service establishments to close their dining rooms and permitting them to offer carryout food and alcohol. Last week, he also issued an order requiring all public-facing businesses, including salons, gyms, theaters, spas, and other entertainment and recreation facilities, shut their doors.

“The more we as community members can comply with these and other restrictions, the less spread of COVID-19 will occur, and the shorter the restrictions will need to be in place,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, medical director for Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness.

Mayor Fischer encouraged businesses to comply with the governor’s orders, and announced that Metro 311 will start taking complaints about businesses that are still open in violation of the orders. Those complaints can be submitted by calling 311, on the Metro311 mobile app, or by visiting www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro311.

Communications on outdoor activities

Mayor Fischer and Dr. Caloia again encouraged residents to stay active and get outdoors while practicing social distancing and asked residents to use common sense when doing so.

Dr. Caloia asked Louisvillians to refrain from pickup sports games including basketball and soccer and urged parents to avoid play groups with other children and playgrounds as they can promote the transmission and spread of COVID-19.

“Although kids are generally not getting severe illness from COVID-19, they can still become infected, and if infected, they can spread this to others and prolong our need to implement social distancing,” she said. “Get your kids outside to exercise and run off some energy, but please avoid areas where people gather.”

Lift Up Lou / Stand in Solidarity

Mayor Fischer invited people to join their neighbors and participate in Stand in Solidarity, starting at 7 p.m. today. All are encouraged to stand outside their homes and ring bells, bang pots and pans together, or otherwise make noise each Sunday evening.

“Tonight, let’s stand in solidarity, and let our neighbors and the world hear that we’re staying home, but we’re in this together, and we’ll get through this together,” said Mayor Fischer.

Share a video of yourself and others taking part in Solidarity on social media with #RingThemBells.

Mayor Fischer reminded residents to search Lift Up Lou on social media channels or visit liftuplou.com to connect to activities for the whole family. Lift Up Lou is being updated regularly with new activities, including exercises, virtual museum tours, educational activities, and more.

Starting tonight, the Big Four Bridge also will light up green, the color of compassion, each night. Waterfront Development Corp. said the nightly lighting is “a symbol of our community’s compassion and resilience during these uncertain times. We want it to be a reminder to everyone that hope is a strong current that binds our city as we work together to mitigate the pandemic.”