One of the most common mistakes new business owners in Portland make is assuming that registering their LLC with the Oregon Secretary of State is enough.

It is not.

If you do business within Portland city limits—even if you just work from your kitchen table—you must also register separately with the City of Portland Revenue Division. Failure to do so can lead to surprise penalties and “Non-Compliance” letters that no business owner wants to receive.

This guide walks you through the registration process on the Portland Revenue Online (PRO) system, step-by-step.

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TL;DR: The Quick Registration Facts

• Where to register: Portland Revenue Online (PRO)
• Cost to register: $0 (Free). You only pay taxes when you file your return.
• Deadline: You are technically required to register within 60 days of starting business activity.
• Who needs this: Anyone doing business in Portland, Multnomah County, or Metro jurisdiction.

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Before You Start: The “State” vs. “City” Confusion

To be compliant in Portland, you generally need three distinct registrations. Ensure you have the first two before attempting the third:

1. State of Oregon: This is your Registry Number (e.g., for your LLC or Assumed Business Name).
2. IRS: This is your EIN (Employer Identification Number). Sole proprietors can use their SSN.
3. City of Portland: This is the “Revenue Division” account we are setting up today.

Step 1: Create Your PRO User Profile

The City of Portland uses a hub called PRO (Portland Revenue Online).

1. Navigate to pro.portland.gov.
2. Click “Sign Up” to create a username and password.
3. Tip: Use a dedicated business email address (e.g., admin@yourcompany.com) so you don’t miss tax alerts in your personal spam folder.

Step 2: Register a New Business Tax Account

Once you are logged in, you need to “tell” the City that your business exists.

1. On your dashboard, look for a link that says “Register a New Business” or “Add a Business Tax Account.”
2. Select Account Type: You are looking for “Business Income Tax” (covers both City of Portland and Multnomah County).
3. Enter Start Date: This is the date you first started conducting business activity (e.g., took your first client call or bought supplies), not necessarily the date you got your first check.

Step 3: Connect Your Entity Info

The system will ask for your ID numbers.

• ID Type: Choose EIN (if you have one) or SSN (if you are a Sole Proprietor without employees).
• Oregon Registry Number: Enter the number from your Secretary of State filing.
• NAICS Code: This is the 6-digit code describing your industry (e.g., 541211 for Accountants). If you don’t know yours, Google “NAICS code for [your industry].”

Step 4: The Metro SHS & Preschool for All Setup

During registration, PRO will ask if you are subject to the Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) tax or the Preschool for All (PFA) tax.

• Don’t Panic: Most small businesses check “No” here regarding withholding, unless you have employees.
• The Net Income Rule: You will report your personal liability for these taxes on your annual personal return, not necessarily through this business registration (unless your business revenue is over $5 million).

Step 5: Confirmation & Your “Account ID”

Once you submit, you will receive a confirmation.

• Save Your Account ID: It will look something like BZT-12345678. Write this down! You will need it every time you call the City or file a return.

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Common Questions (FAQ)

I make less than $50,000. Do I still have to register?

Yes. This is the #1 misconception. The $50,000 exemption applies to paying the tax, not registering for it. You must register to get an account number, and then file a return once a year to declare, “I made less than $50k, so I owe $0.” If you don’t register, they assume you are a non-filer and may fine you.

Read More: For a full breakdown of tax thresholds, see my Complete Guide to Portland Business Taxes (2026).

What if I have been in business for 2 years but never registered?

Register immediately. The City has a “Voluntary Disclosure Program” that is often more lenient than if they catch you first. Go to PRO, register, and back-file your missing returns. You may owe some interest, but it stops the bleeding.

I live in Beaverton but have clients in Portland. Do I register?

Likely Yes. If you physically enter Portland to meet clients, perform work, or deliver goods, you are “doing business” in the City. Your income will be apportioned (split) based on how much work you did inside vs. outside the city limits. You still need an account to report that split.

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Stuck on “Step 3”? Let me handle it.

Setting up tax accounts is a one-time headache, but getting it wrong can cause years of letters from City Hall.

If you want to ensure your Portland Revenue Division account is set up correctly from Day 1, let’s chat. We handle the setup, the exemptions, and the annual filings so you never have to log into PRO again.