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Portland City Council today adopted a proposal by Mayor Wilson and Councilor Zimmerman to bring tax relief to thousands of small businesses. The Council vote raises the threshold for the city’s business tax from $50,000 to $75,000 in 2026 and to $100,000 in 2027.
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With today's vote, Portland City Council officially adopted a crucial update to the city's small business tax exemption, approving a proposal by Mayor Keith Wilson and Councilor Eric Zimmerman to modernize the Business License Tax for the first time since 2007.
With final approval secured at the second reading, the change is set to take effect next year. The updated exemption will reduce taxes for thousands of Portland's small businesses and streamline filing by aligning the city's threshold with Multnomah County's existing $100,000 exemption.
"I'm thankful to Council for recognizing what small business owners have been telling us," Wilson said. "This change gives them the support they need to keep investing in their ideas, their employees, and their communities."
"I'm very proud we were able to pass this with the support of every Councilor present today," Zimmerman said. "This is a step forward, showing the businesses that are open today that we support them, while creating incentives for new businesses to open tomorrow."
The measure was developed in partnership with the City's Revenue Division and approved by the Council's Finance Committee before advancing to Council for adoption. The updated exemption will apply when businesses file taxes for the 2026 tax year.