CL · Expiry & renewal tracking
Never leave a municipal business licence unpaid
Every profit-making activity carried on from premises or an office pays a municipal licence (patente municipal) for twelve months, from 1 July to 30 June (Municipal Revenue Law, DL 3.063, Articles 23 and 29). It is paid in full or in two equal instalments, within July and January, the second adjusted for CPI.
In Chile, carrying on any profession, trade, industry, commerce, art or other secondary or tertiary profit-making activity is subject to a municipal licence fee, the patente municipal (Municipal Revenue Act, DL 3.063, Article 23). The licence covers the activity a taxpayer carries on at its premises, office, establishment, kiosk or specific location, regardless of how many lines of business it includes (Article 24).
The licence value covers twelve months, from 1 July of the year of the declaration to 30 June of the following year. It is paid in full or in two equal instalments at the municipality, within July and January; if paid in two instalments, the second is adjusted for CPI (Article 29).
If the company has branches, offices or premises, the total amount is split among them by number of workers, and the taxpayer must file a declaration each May, at the municipality of its head office, with the number of workers at each unit (Article 25). People practising liberal professions pay their annual licence only in the municipality where their practice, studio or main office is located, and that licence covers the whole country (Article 32).
At a glance
| Term | Twelve months, from 1 July to 30 June of the following year (DL 3.063, Article 29) |
|---|---|
| Payment | In full or in two equal instalments, within July and January (Article 29) |
| Who pays | Every secondary or tertiary profit-making activity and certain primary activities (Article 23) |
| Branches | Declaration of workers per unit each May, at the head-office municipality (Article 25) |
| Starting after 31 December | Half the licence value is paid (Article 29) |
| Change of address | Notify the new municipality within 30 calendar days of moving in (Article 29) |
Only non-profit legal entities engaged in charity, religious worship, cultural activities, mutual aid among members, non-professional arts or sports and the promotion of community interests are exempt (Article 27).
Who is responsible?
The owners of the establishments or businesses are liable for paying the licence, and so are their managers or administrators, even without a formal appointment or mandate (DL 3.063, Article 31).
If the deadline passes
Late payment of the licence allows the mayor to order the immediate closure of the business or establishment for as long as the arrears last, without prejudice to legal collection action (DL 3.063, Article 58). The debt is collected through enforcement proceedings based on the municipal secretary's certificate (Article 47), and a taxpayer in arrears also pays inflation adjustments and interest under the Tax Code (Article 48). Failing to file the declarations on time incurs a fine based on the licence value (Article 52).
Provisional licence: a separate deadline
The municipality may grant a provisional licence while certain permits are obtained, for no more than two years from the grant. To extend it by up to one more year, the taxpayer must file a work plan sixty days before the initial deadline. If the permits are refused or the deadline to obtain them passes, the provisional licence lapses automatically and the activity must stop immediately (DL 3.063, Article 26).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add each site or branch and record 31 July, the last day to pay the licence or its first instalment, as the expiry; if you pay in two instalments, create a second record for 31 January.
- If you hold a provisional licence, record the deadline set by the municipality as the expiry: the 60-day reminder matches the notice needed to request an extension.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day; whoever makes the payment can upload the receipt through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
- Assign a responsible person to each site, such as the site administrator; if the deadline passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- What period does the municipal licence cover?
- Twelve months, from 1 July of the year of the declaration to 30 June of the following year (DL 3.063, Article 29).
- When is it paid?
- In full or in two equal instalments, within July and January (Article 29).
- What happens if I do not pay?
- The mayor may order the immediate closure of the business for as long as the arrears last (Article 58), and the debt is collected through the courts with inflation adjustments and interest (Articles 47 and 48).
- I have several branches. Do I pay one licence per branch?
- The taxpayer's total licence amount is paid proportionally by each unit according to its number of workers, which is declared each May at the head-office municipality (Article 25).
Sources
Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
Made for municipal business licence (commercial, industrial, professional) (Chile)
A ready template for municipal business licence (commercial, industrial, professional) (Chile) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.
Reminders on time
Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each municipal business licence (commercial, industrial, professional) (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.
Assign an owner
Give each municipal business licence (commercial, industrial, professional) (Chile) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.