CPA for Ventura County: Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Simi Valley
MangoBooks is a Los Angeles CPA firm serving small businesses and individuals in Ventura County, including Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks. Our only office is at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles; MangoBooks has no office in Ventura County. Clients there work with us without visiting: meetings are scheduled in advance, and documents and signatures are exchanged electronically.
A business in Ventura County can have us keep its monthly books, run its payroll, prepare its return together with the owner's personal return and set up a new LLC or S corporation; an individual can have us prepare the federal and California returns and plan the year's estimated payments. Felix Park, CPA, MBA, a licensed California CPA, is responsible for the work. A business tax return typically costs $2,000–$3,500 per year and monthly bookkeeping $650–$1,400 per month; catch-up bookkeeping starts from $1,500.
Where We Work in Ventura County
Property tax in Ventura County is assessed and collected by the county. Business tax rules are set by each city, and several of them, including the City of Ventura, Oxnard and Simi Valley, issue a Business Tax Certificate rather than a business license, while the County of Ventura issues its own certificate for the unincorporated areas. We take on businesses and individuals anywhere in the county, including:
- The City of Ventura and Oxnard. Both issue a Business Tax Certificate instead of a business license.
- Camarillo. A yearly business tax under the Camarillo Municipal Code, which also applies to a business licensed in another city that operates in Camarillo.
- Simi Valley and Moorpark. Simi Valley requires a Business Tax Certificate before a new business starts; Moorpark uses a Business Registration applied for online.
- Thousand Oaks and the Conejo Valley, including Newbury Park and Oak Park, which have a page of their own: CPA for the Conejo Valley.
- Unincorporated Ventura County. A County of Ventura Business Tax Certificate, required also of a business within city limits that delivers, solicits or operates there.
Situations We Handle
A new business in Oxnard or Simi Valley. All businesses operating in Oxnard register for the city's Business Tax Certificate, and every new business in Simi Valley obtains its Business Tax Certificate before conducting business in the city, with the tax for most businesses based on the previous year's gross receipts. Alongside the city's certificate, we set up the LLC or corporation, file the S corporation election when it suits the business and set out the first-year California payments; see Business Formation.
A service business that works across the county. A contractor or consultant based in one city and working in others can need more than one certificate: Camarillo requires a business with a license from another city to apply with its business tax division when it operates in Camarillo, Moorpark's Business Registration applies whether the business is based outside the city or opening within it, and a business located within any city limits that delivers, solicits or operates in the unincorporated areas needs the County of Ventura certificate. We keep the books that each of these taxes is figured from, run payroll and prepare the business return together with the owner's personal return; see Bookkeeping and Business Tax Preparation.
Business Tax Certificates by City
- City of Ventura. Any business operating in the City of Ventura is required to pay Business License Tax. The city issues a Business Tax Certificate instead of a business license; it is not a regulatory license, and the city has separate application instructions for businesses based outside the city.
- Oxnard. All businesses operating in the City of Oxnard are required to register for a Business Tax Certificate, which the city issues instead of a business license.
- Camarillo. Anyone operating a business pays a yearly business tax, as required by the Camarillo Municipal Code. A business that operates in Camarillo with a business license from another city still applies with the city's business tax division.
- Simi Valley. Every new business obtains a Business Tax Certificate before conducting business in the city. For most businesses the tax is based on the previous year's annual gross receipts, and home occupation permits go through the Planning Division.
- Moorpark. The city uses a Business Registration, applied for online, whether the business is based outside the city or is opening within it.
- Thousand Oaks. Every business operating in the city or keeping a business address there needs the city's Business Tax Certificate; the details, and the rules for the rest of the Conejo Valley, are on CPA for the Conejo Valley.
- Unincorporated areas. All businesses conducted in the unincorporated areas of the county must obtain a County of Ventura Business Tax Certificate, including temporary businesses such as film productions. Even businesses located within city limits that deliver, solicit or operate in the unincorporated areas must have the certificate.
Property Tax in Ventura County
- Installment dates. The first installment is due November 1 and is delinquent after December 10; the second installment is delinquent after April 10.
- Assessment appeals. For the 2026 regular assessment, the value as of January 1, 2026, applications were accepted from July 2, 2026; the 2026 period closed on September 15, 2026. Supplemental, escape and roll-change assessments have separate deadlines: within 60 days of the date the notice was mailed.
- Passing property to children. The parent-to-child exclusion has covered only a family home or family farm since February 16, 2021, so a rental that passes to children is reassessed.
- Homeowners' exemption. The $7,000 homeowners' exemption reduces the assessed value of an owner's principal residence only, so it is not available for a rental.
Schedule E, depreciation and the tax on buying or selling a rental are explained on Rental Property Owners.
California Specifics
- LLCs. An LLC pays the $800 annual tax every year it is organized or doing business in California, even if it is not conducting business, until it is cancelled. The first payment is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the LLC files with the Secretary of State, and the first-year exemption covered only tax years 2021 through 2023. An LLC with total California income of $250,000 or more also pays an LLC fee.
- Corporations and S corporations. A corporation newly incorporated on or after January 1, 2020 does not pay the $800 minimum franchise tax in its first taxable year. An S corporation pays 1.5 percent of its California income, with the $800 minimum waived for its first taxable year, and must keep a separate bank account and separate records.
- Seller's permit. A business engaged in business in California that sells or leases tangible personal property ordinarily subject to sales tax needs a seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which charges no fee for it.
How We Work
Our office at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–6:00 pm. Every engagement begins with a consultation; the written engagement letter that follows sets out the scope of work and the fee, and work starts only after that.
To begin, call (213) 255-4665 or contact us.
Fees
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Monthly bookkeeping | $650–$1,400 per month |
| Catch-up bookkeeping | From $1,500 |
| Payroll | $175–$400 per month |
| Business tax return (1120-S, 1065 or 1120 with the California return) | $2,000–$3,500 per year |
| LLC or S corporation setup | From $950 plus state fees |
| Individual return with a business or rental properties | $1,100–$1,800 |
| Individual return with K-1s, stock compensation or several states | $2,500–$4,500 |
Tax planning and financial statements are quoted after a consultation. Fees depend on the scope of work and are set out in a written engagement letter before work begins. See the Fee Guide.
Services Involved
- Bookkeeping: monthly books, and catch-up for books that are behind
- Business Tax Preparation: the company's federal and California returns with a K-1 for each owner
- Individual Tax Preparation: the owner's or employee's personal return
- Payroll: employee payroll and the S corporation owner's salary
- Business Formation: the LLC or corporation and the S corporation election
- Tax Planning: the year's estimates and the owner's salary
- Financial Statements: statements for owners and lenders
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MangoBooks have an office in Ventura County?
No. Our only office is at 6200 Variel Ave in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. We take on clients anywhere in Ventura County, including Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks, without office visits: meetings are scheduled in advance, and documents and signatures are exchanged electronically.
Which Ventura County cities issue a Business Tax Certificate instead of a business license?
The City of Ventura and Oxnard both issue a Business Tax Certificate instead of a business license, and Simi Valley requires every new business to obtain a Business Tax Certificate before conducting business in the city. Camarillo collects a yearly business tax under its Municipal Code, Moorpark uses a Business Registration applied for online, and Thousand Oaks requires a Business Tax Certificate. Businesses in the unincorporated areas obtain a County of Ventura Business Tax Certificate.
Does a business based in a city need the County of Ventura Business Tax Certificate?
It does if it delivers, solicits or operates in the unincorporated areas of the county. The county's certificate is required for all businesses conducted in the unincorporated areas, including temporary businesses such as film productions, and the county states that even businesses located within city limits that deliver, solicit or operate in those areas must have it.
When is the Ventura County assessment appeal period?
For the 2026 regular assessment, the value as of January 1, 2026, applications were accepted from July 2, 2026, and the 2026 period closed on September 15, 2026. Supplemental, escape and roll-change assessments have separate deadlines: within 60 days of the date the notice was mailed. Property tax installments are due November 1, delinquent after December 10, and delinquent after April 10 for the second installment.
What does bookkeeping or a business tax return cost in Ventura County?
Monthly bookkeeping typically costs $650–$1,400 per month, catch-up bookkeeping for books that are behind starts from $1,500, and a business tax return costs $2,000–$3,500 per year. Payroll is $175–$400 per month, and the owner's individual return $1,100–$1,800 with a business or $2,500–$4,500 with K-1s. Every fee is agreed in a written engagement letter before the work begins. See the Fee Guide.
Can MangoBooks set up a new LLC or S corporation for a Ventura County business and handle its first-year taxes?
Yes. LLC or S corporation setup starts from $950 plus state fees and comes with a first-year calendar of California payments. A new LLC owes the $800 annual tax by the 15th day of the 4th month after it files with the Secretary of State; a new S corporation does not pay the $800 minimum in its first taxable year, though its income is taxed at 1.5 percent. The city's Business Tax Certificate or registration is separate from the state filings; see Business Formation.
Schedule a Consultation
Call (213) 255-4665 or send us a short message about your situation.
Please do not include Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or tax documents in the form.