A CPA for Milwaukie makers, trades and households
Milwaukie was incorporated in 1903. It sits in Clackamas County and is one of the 24 cities in the Metro region. The city describes the North Milwaukie Industrial Area, more than 200 acres next to the MAX Orange Line at Tacoma station, as one of its three main job centers and a home for manufacturing, makers and doers.
If you run a small manufacturer, a fabrication shop, a craft producer or a contracting business here, your tax work probably involves inventory, equipment, payroll and the occasional big purchase that needs to be depreciated the right way.
Our office is at 515 NW Saltzman Rd in Portland. We do not have an office in Milwaukie. Most clients work with their CPA online, and meetings are arranged when needed.
Business taxes for Milwaukie shops and manufacturers
If you make or sell products, the Oregon Corporate Activity Tax can apply sooner than you think. It is based on Oregon commercial activity, not profit. You must register within 30 days of reaching $750,000, and once you pass $1 million you file and pay $250 plus 0.57% of taxable Oregon commercial activity above $1 million. Sole proprietors are covered too.
Equipment purchases deserve a planning conversation. Whether you write off a new machine in one year or spread it out changes your federal and Oregon tax, and it can also change your income for local taxes. Your CPA can run both options before you buy.
A growing Milwaukie company organized as a partnership, LLC or corporation should also watch the Metro SHS business income tax. It applies once gross receipts, counted everywhere, are more than $5 million, at 1% of profit apportioned to the Metro district.
Selling at markets, online or wholesale to stores outside Oregon raises its own questions. Other states may expect you to collect their sales tax once your sales there grow, even if you never set foot there. Your CPA can help you track sales by state so you can see when that point is close.
What we help people in Milwaukie with
- Federal and Oregon business returns
- Oregon Corporate Activity Tax registration and filing
- Equipment and depreciation planning
- Payroll setup with TriMet and statewide transit tax
- Paid Leave Oregon contributions
- Monthly bookkeeping and job costing
- Personal returns and Metro SHS filings
- Rental property returns on Schedule E
Payroll, TriMet and transit taxes
The MAX Orange Line stops in Milwaukie, and employers in the TriMet district also pay the TriMet transit payroll tax. It applies to wages for work done inside the TriMet district and is paid by the employer, not taken from employees. Self employed people owe it on net earnings from work inside the district. Because it depends on where the work happens, TriMet suggests checking specific addresses with its online map.
Employers also withhold the statewide transit tax from wages, which applies to Oregon residents wherever they work and to nonresidents working in Oregon. Paid Leave Oregon adds another line. For 2026 the rate is 1%, with employees paying 60% and employers with 25 or more employees paying 40%.
A CPA or payroll service can set up these withholdings correctly from the first paycheck and file the quarterly Oregon reports, which is where small mistakes tend to pile up.
Returns for Milwaukie households and landlords
Milwaukie residents are in Clackamas County, so the Multnomah County Preschool for All tax does not apply to them as residents. It can apply to income earned inside Multnomah County, which matters for anyone who runs a business with work in Portland and has income over the threshold.
The Metro SHS personal income tax applies to residents inside the Metro boundary. For tax year 2025 it was 1% on Oregon taxable income over $125,000 for single filers and $200,000 for joint filers. Many households will never reach that level, but a business sale or a big year can push you over it once.
If you rent out a house or an accessory unit, your CPA reports it on Schedule E, tracks depreciation, and helps you keep the records you will need when you eventually sell.
Bookkeeping that keeps up with the work
For a small manufacturer or trade business, good books are not just for tax season. Knowing your job costs, material costs and margins each month helps you price work and spot problems early.
Your CPA can set up bookkeeping that tracks inventory and job costs, reconcile your accounts monthly, and give you reports that make sense without an accounting degree. When tax season comes, the return is built from records you already trust.
Choosing the right structure is part of this. A Milwaukie maker who started as a sole proprietor may reach a point where an LLC taxed as an S corp lowers self employment tax. Your CPA can show you the numbers, including the extra payroll and filing work an S corp brings, before you decide.
How to get a quote from Milwaukie
Fill in the short quote form and tell us about your business or household. A licensed CPA who works with companies and families like yours gets in touch with a clear, fixed quote.
Once you agree, documents are shared online, your CPA asks follow up questions, and you approve the returns before they are filed. If a visit to your shop would help, it can be arranged.
Who we work with here
- Small manufacturers and makers
- Contractors and trade businesses
- Employers with a handful of staff
- Self employed people working across the region
- Landlords with one or two rentals
- Households near the Metro SHS threshold
Common questions
Do Milwaukie residents owe the Preschool for All tax?
Not as residents, because Milwaukie is in Clackamas County. You can owe it on income earned inside Multnomah County if your income is over the threshold.
Does my Milwaukie business owe TriMet tax?
Employers owe it on wages for work done inside the TriMet district, and self employed people owe it on net earnings from work there. It depends on the work location, so check your address with TriMet or ask your CPA.
When do I need to register for Oregon CAT?
Within 30 days of reaching $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity. Businesses over $1 million must file and pay.
Do you have an office in Milwaukie?
No. Our office is at 515 NW Saltzman Rd in Portland. Most clients work with their CPA online, and meetings are arranged when needed.
Can a CPA help me decide how to write off new equipment?
Yes. Your CPA can compare writing off the cost in one year against spreading it out, and show how each choice affects your federal, Oregon and local taxes.
I started as a sole proprietor. Should my Milwaukie business become an S corp?
It depends on your profit and how much salary you would pay yourself. Your CPA can compare the self employment tax savings against the extra payroll and filing costs before you decide.
Will I get a price before work starts?
Yes. After you send the quote form, a licensed CPA who handles your type of work gets in touch with a clear, fixed quote.
Does the Metro SHS tax apply to my small business?
The business version applies only to partnerships, LLCs and corporations with more than $5 million in gross receipts. Sole proprietors are not subject to it.