July 30, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

L.A. City Council renews tax break for Internet -based businesses, Garcetti and Bonin back extension

The Los Angeles City Council today renewed a tax break for Internet-based businesses in Los Angeles that was set to expire in December.

Companies that fit the definition of the Internet-based businesses pay $1.01 per every $1,000 in gross receipts, but would have paid the $5.07 rate now being paid by most other businesses, if the council did not take action.

The reduced tax, aimed at attracting internet companies to Los Angeles, will be in effect until 2018. The council also ordered a study of the effects of the tax reduction.

Westside-area City Councilman Mike Bonin, who was behind the extension, said Los Angeles benefits when “smart, creative and innovative technology companies choose to start businesses in L.A.”

“Incentives like this have helped draw start-ups to the Southland and I am thrilled that the council is continuing to work toward making Los Angeles a great place to do business,” he said.

In Venice, Google rents about 100,000 square-feet of space in the Frank Gehry-designed “binoculars” building on Main Street — for about 500 employees — that was originally occupied by Chiat/Day Advertising.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who partnered with Bonin to get the ordinance passed, said Internet businesses in Los Angeles were growing in importance to the regional economy and he was “pleased to see the council support these businesses and ensure that this highly mobile industry continues make its home and thrive within the city of Los Angeles.”

Among the businesses that wrote in to support of extending the Internet business incentive included online dating companies eHarmony and Grindr, messaging application company Snapchat and e-commerce site Shopzilla.

An eHarmony executive, COO Armen Avedissian, wrote that the company, now headquartered in Santa Monica, was “very seriously considering a move to the city of L.A. upon the expiration of our lease in July 2015.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti also backed the extension of the tax break, which he helped author while a councilman, writing in a letter to council members that the tax break was instrumental in persuading game developer Riot Games to move to Los Angeles.

Facebook has also opened offices in the city since the tax rate was reduced for Internet businesses in 2010, he wrote.

Related Posts

Fiesta La Ballona Returns to Culver City With Rides, Food, and Family Fun

July 29, 2025

July 29, 2025

Discounted Unlimited Ride Wristbands Now Available Online Fiesta La Ballona is set to return to Veterans Memorial Park on August 22–24,...

Man Arrested After Threatening Westwood Village Ambassadors With a Blade

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

LAPD Says Suspect Wielded Box Cutter Near Weyburn and Glendon Authorities arrested a man Sunday afternoon following a confrontation in...

Felony Charges Dropped for Man in UCLA Encampment Attack After Diversion Deal

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Malachi Marlan-Librett Must Complete Therapy, Anti-bias Training in Hate Crime Case The only person charged with a felony in connection...

Homecare Company Celebrates 14 years of Compassion While Planting New Roots After January Fire

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Luxe Homecare, a leading provider of compassionate and reliable in-home care services for seniors has recently announced the opening of...

Wallis Annenberg, Visionary Philanthropist and Civic Leader, Dies at 86

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Philanthropist Expanded Foundation’s Reach From Arts to Conservation Wallis Annenberg, a prominent philanthropist and longtime leader of the Annenberg Foundation,...

Second Grenade Still Missing After Blast That Killed Three LA Sheriff’s Detectives

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

Only One Grenade Exploded; The Second Device Has Vanished Authorities said Friday that one of two grenades recovered last week...

More Than $50 Billion in Damage: What January’s Wildfire Cost the City of Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Nearly 11,000 Properties, Many in Pacific Palisades, Affected; True Losses Likely Higher Nearly $52 billion in residential real estate across...

Award-Winning Beverly Hills Villa Lists for $39.9 Million in Celebrity-Filled Enclave

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Limestone Showpiece Hits Market in the Flats, From Acclaimed Architect Tucked in the heart of Beverly Hills Flats, a limestone-clad...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles For More...

Residents Paint DIY Crosswalks Around West LA Park to Slow Speeding Drivers

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

Neighbors Say Safety Comes First, But City Crews Remove Safety Feature Fed up with what they call years of city...

The Third Place Reinvented: Why Kavahana Is Becoming LA’s New Favorite Hangout Spot

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

In a city full of coffee shops that close too early and bars that don’t cater to the sober (or...

Avocet Playa Vista: Your New Luxury Retirement Experience

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2025

A wealth of high-end amenities, gourmet cuisine, mind-body programs and stimulating cultural events, centered around a luxury lifestyle retirement experience...

LAPD to Conduct DUI Checkpoints Across City This Weekend

July 26, 2025

July 26, 2025

LAPD officials said checkpoint locations are chosen based on areas with high numbers of DUI-related crashes and arrests The Los...

Sunset Jazz & Pizza Series Returns to The Lobster

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

The series blends jazz from a three-piece house band with handcrafted pizzas and $5 Open Brewing beers  The Lobster’s popular...

Measles Case Confirmed in LA, Officials Urge Vaccination

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

Investigators are working to identify potential exposures and assess the risk to others Health officials have confirmed a case of...