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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79513</law_id><section_number>58.1-3714</section_number><catch_line>Contractors; credits against tax; effect upon authority of towns; workers&amp;#8217; compensation requirements; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>58.1-3715</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Local Taxes</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="37">License Taxes</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Whenever a license tax is levied on <span class="dictionary">contractors</span> by any county, city or town, the governing body of such county, city or town may, in its discretion, require a <span class="dictionary">bond</span> from the person licensed, with such <span class="dictionary">surety</span>, <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> and conditions as it may deem proper. <a id="paragraph-284901" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> 1. The governing body of any county, city or town shall not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> or reissue a <span class="dictionary">business</span> license under this chapter to any <span class="dictionary">contractor</span> who (i) has not obtained or is not maintaining workers&#x2019; compensation coverage for his employees and (ii) at the time of application for such issuance or reissuance, is required to obtain or maintain such coverage pursuant to Chapter 8 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Duty to insure payment of compensation; effect of insurance" href="/65.2-800/">65.2-800</a> et seq.) of Title 65.2. <a id="paragraph-284902" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Each such governing body shall require every <span class="dictionary">contractor</span> to provide written certification at the time of any application for issuance or reissuance of a <span class="dictionary">business</span> license that such <span class="dictionary">contractor</span> is in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 8 of Title 65.2 and will remain in compliance with such provisions at all times during the effective period of any such <span class="dictionary">business</span> license. <a id="paragraph-284903" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any person who knowingly presents or causes to be presented to the governing body a false certificate shall be guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-284904" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If, within any county imposing a license tax on <span class="dictionary">contractors</span>, there is situated a town which imposes a similar tax upon <span class="dictionary">contractors</span>, the <span class="dictionary">business</span>, firm, corporation or individual subject to such town license tax shall be entitled, upon displaying <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that such town license taxes have been paid, to receive a credit on the license taxes imposed by the county to the extent of the license taxes paid to such town. <a id="paragraph-284905" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> For the purpose of license taxation pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Counties, cities and towns may impose local license taxes and fees; limitation of authority" href="/58.1-3703/">58.1-3703</a>, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">contractor</span>&#x201D; means any person, firm or corporation: <a id="paragraph-284906" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Accepting or offering to accept <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> for doing any work on or in any building or structure, requiring the use of paint, stone, brick, mortar, wood, cement, structural iron or steel, sheet iron, galvanized iron, metallic piping, tin, lead, or other metal or any other building <span class="dictionary">material</span>; <a id="paragraph-284907" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Accepting or offering to accept <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> to do any paving, curbing or other work on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or highways, or public or private property, using asphalt, brick, stone, cement, concrete, wood or any composition; <a id="paragraph-284908" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Accepting or offering to accept an <span class="dictionary">order</span> for or <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to excavate earth, rock, or other <span class="dictionary">material</span> for foundation or any other purpose or for cutting, trimming or maintaining rights-of-way; <a id="paragraph-284909" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Accepting or offering to accept an <span class="dictionary">order</span> or <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to construct any sewer of stone, brick, terra cotta or other <span class="dictionary">material</span>; <a id="paragraph-284910" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Accepting or offering to accept <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> for doing any work on or in any building or premises involving the erecting, installing, altering, repairing, servicing, or maintaining electric wiring, devices or appliances permanently connected to such wiring, or the erecting, repairing or maintaining of lines for the transmission or distribution of electric light and power; or <a id="paragraph-284911" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Engaging in the <span class="dictionary">business</span> of plumbing and steam fitting. <a id="paragraph-284912" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-3714/#D6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 58-302.1; 1962, c. 553; 1984, c. 675; 1998, c. 503; 2024, c. 558.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
