Washington compliance determination guidance

Confirm your business formation & Secretary of State obligations - File your Certificate of Formation (or foreign qualification) with the Washington Secretary of State and maintain a registered agent with a Washington street address.

The Secretary of State requires an annual report/continuing filing to keep entities in good standing—file by the last day of your registration anniversary month (you may file early). Check the Corporations & Charities division pages for exact filing windows, filing system, and instructions. - Recommended action: Create a compliance calendar for the initial report (if required) and the annual report; keep registered agent contact and business addresses current.

Confirm your business formation & Secretary of State obligations

• File your Certificate of Formation (or foreign qualification) with the Washington Secretary of State and maintain a registered agent with a Washington street address. The Secretary of State requires an annual report/continuing filing to keep entities in good standing—file by the last day of your registration anniversary month (you may file early). Check the Corporations & Charities division pages for exact filing windows, filing system, and instructions.
• Recommended action: Create a compliance calendar for the initial report (if required) and the annual report; keep registered agent contact and business addresses current.

Register with the Department of Revenue / Business Licensing Service - Use the Business Licensing Wizard (Business Licensing Service via the Department of Revenue) to determine the state, city, and federal licenses and endorsements your business needs. Register to obtain your UBI/Business License if you meet thresholds (e.g., taxable sales, gross income thresholds) and set up My DOR to file excise returns electronically. - Washington does not have a personal or corporate income tax; instead it uses the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, sales & use tax, property tax, and industry-specific taxes. Most businesses must file excise tax returns; your assigned filing frequency depends on estimated tax liability. - Recommended action

Run the Business Licensing Wizard, register for My DOR, confirm whether you must collect sales tax, and note filing frequency and electronic filing/payment requirements.

Employer payroll and workforce obligations - If you have employees, register with the Department of Labor & Industries (workers’ compensation) and the Employment Security Department (unemployment insurance). Workers’ compensation premiums and unemployment taxes are reported/paid on a quarterly schedule (commonly due April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 for prior quarter reporting). Confirm reporting frequency and due dates based on your account setup. - Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave (state program) requires employer and employee premium contributions and quarterly reporting—review paidleave.wa.gov for premium calculation and reporting or voluntary plan options. - Recommended action

Register as an employer with L&I and ESD before hiring; obtain payroll systems that withhold and remit federal and state-required amounts and track quarterly filing due dates.

Licenses, permits, local requirements and industry rules - Many cities and counties have local business licenses, local B&O taxes, zoning, health, fire and other permits. Specialty and professional licenses (healthcare, construction contractors, trades, liquor/cannabis, environmental permits) often require separate agency registration and renewal schedules. - Recommended action

Use the Business Licensing Wizard and check city/county websites; contact ORIA (Office for Regulatory Innovation & Assistance) for help navigating permits.

Ongoing records, governance, and reporting best practices - Keep an up-to-date operating agreement, maintain separate bank accounts, track owner distributions, maintain accurate books, and retain corporate minutes/records to preserve liability protection. - Keep the Secretary of State and licensing addresses and contact info current; update ownership/manager, registered agent or address changes promptly.

Common pitfalls & risk areas - Missing the annual report or required state filings can lead to late fees, administrative dissolution, or revoked good standing. Missing tax registrations or employer registrations can lead to penalties and retroactive liabilities. Not obtaining required local permits or specialty licenses risks fines and enforcement actions.

Practical next steps checklist (priority ordered) - If not already done

file formation documents and initial report with WA Secretary of State; appoint Washington registered agent. - Run the Business Licensing Wizard and register for UBI/business license with the Department of Revenue. - If hiring or paying wages: register with L&I (workers’ comp) and ESD (unemployment) and set up Paid Family & Medical Leave reporting/withholding. - Set up My DOR and payroll tax withholding processes; confirm B&O and sales tax obligations and filing frequency. - Inventory local/city permits and specialty licenses; secure necessary permits before operations begin. - Create a compliance calendar with filing deadlines (annual report anniversary, quarterly payroll taxes, quarterly excise returns where applicable) and consider using a compliance service or attorney/accountant to manage reminders and filings.

Where to get immediate forms, filing pages, and authoritative guidance (key agency pages)

- Washington Secretary of State — Maintain Business Compliance and Annual Reports (entity maintenance and filing system) https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/business-entities/maintain-business-compliance - Washington Department of Revenue — Open a Business / Business Licensing Wizard (UBI, Business License, B&O, sales tax, filing tools) https://dor.wa.gov/open-business - Washington Department of Labor & Industries — Employer pages (workers’ compensation, reporting and premiums) https://lni.wa.gov/employers - Washington Employment Security Department — Employer services (unemployment taxes, employer tax reporting) and Paid Family & Medical Leave links https://esd.wa.gov/employer-services - Business.wa.gov — Small Business Guide, Run Your Business (combined state guidance on taxes, permits, employment, and regulatory compliance) https://www.business.wa.gov/site/alias__business/880/Small-Business-Guide--Run.aspx Caveat and recommendation: agency rules, fee amounts, and filing windows change—always verify fees and exact forms on the agency pages linked above before you file. For complex questions (nexus, industry-specific regulation, tax elections, multi-state operations, BOI/FinCEN reporting), consult a licensed Washington attorney or a CPA experienced with Washington state taxes and employment law. If you want, I can now: (a) draft the full blog post (SEO-optimized, with actionable checklists and links) based on this research; (b) create the newsletter content and subject line using your provided template; or (c) generate a compliance calendar and sample email reminders for the deadlines. Tell me which deliverable to prepare next and any tone/length preferences.