For persons required to pay the tax directly to the city, on or before the last day of each month, each taxpayer shall make a return to the city for the preceding month stating:

    A.    His name;

    B.    His principal place of business;

    C.    His gross receipts and/or kilowatt-hour usage during the month upon the basis of which the tax is imposed;

    D.    Amount of tax;

    E.    Such other reasonable and related information as the corporate authorities may require.

    The taxpayer making the return herein provided for shall, at the time of making such return, pay to Columbia the amount of tax herein imposed; provided that in connection with any return, the taxpayer may, if he so elects, report and pay an amount based upon his total billings of business subject to the tax during the period for which the return is made (exclusive of any amounts previously billed) with prompt adjustments of later payments based upon any differences between such billings, and the taxable gross receipts. (Ord. 1679 § 1 (part), 1998)