In an effort to keep businesses up-to-date on personal property taxes, the County Council approved legislation that will prevent the issuance of permits and licenses until property taxes are paid.

“If you own a St. Louis County-based company that’s delinquent on any of its personal property taxes, you won’t get any annual license or permit from us until you pay what you owe,” Eugene Leung, county director of revenue, stated in a news release.

“The vast majority of companies who do business in St. Louis County pay their personal property taxes on time. There is, however, approximately $25 (million) to $35 million in unpaid commercial personal property tax revenue that we intend to collect with our new ordinance,” Leung added.

Effective Sept. 4, companies that need a yearly license or permit will have to show proof that they are current on their businesses’ personal property tax obligations before the county issues the documents — without which the business cannot operate. The County Council approved the measure on June 19.

“We’re not doing this to be punitive or heavy-handed,” Leung continued. “But it’s important that everyone play by the same rules. And more importantly, in these tough budgetary times, it’s imperative that we make every effort to collect what is owed to the citizens of St. Louis County, Mo.”

The new requirements apply to a wide variety of commercial enterprises, including electrical licenses, waste-vehicle licenses, restaurant permits, liquor licenses and coin-operated amusement devices.

Officials emphasize the new measure applies to the personal property taxes owed by a company — rather than any tax issues surrounding the employee applying for the permit or application on behalf of the company.

The county offers three different ways of checking the payment status of personal property taxes:

• Online records can be searched by account number, name or address at

. Once the account is displayed, property owners can select the year they would like to view and will be given the opportunity to print a duplicate receipt if needed. It is important to remember that online payments may take up to one week to be posted. Online payments are processed through an outside company and can take up to five business days to post on St. Louis County’s website.

• Call (314) 615-5500.

• Visit any Saint Louis County office:

Clayton

41 S. Central Ave.

Clayton 63105

North County

21 Village Square Shopping Center

Hazelwood 63042

South County

4546 Lemay Ferry Road — Keller Plaza

Saint Louis 63129

West County

74 Clarkson Wilson Centre

Chesterfield 63017

If a delinquent tax payer needs a receipt immediately, they must pay in person at one of the county’s offices. That is the only way to get a stamped “paid” receipt right then and there, according to the release.