Washington state regulatory filing support

I conducted targeted web searches and page extractions from official Washington state resources (Secretary of State and Department of Revenue) and related pages to gather up-to-date, actionable information about Washington state regulatory filing support for LLCs and other business entities.

The research covered formation (Certificate of Formation), initial and annual report requirements and deadlines, registered agent rules, foreign qualification, business licensing/UBI registration and processing, key filing fees, reinstatement/penalty rules, online filing portals and practical compliance steps.

The summary below compiles the essential, state-specific facts and links you can use to build a comprehensive blog post and newsletter content for Washington business owners and LLC founders.Key findings (concise actionable summary):- Formation (Certificate of Formation): Washington’s Certificate of Formation for an LLC is governed by RCW 25.15.

The Secretary of State accepts online filing via the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS). Official filing fee: $180 (plus an online processing fee).

Expedited processing is available for an additional $100.- Initial report: An Initial Report (the first annual report) must be filed within 120 days of a domestic business’s origination. The initial report can be filed with the origination (formation) filing for no additional charge; if deferred, an additional fee applies.

The online Certificate of Formation includes a “Defer Initial Report” checkbox and guidance.- Annual report: Annual Reports are required yearly to maintain active status. An Annual Report is due by the business entity’s expiration date — the last day of the month in which the business was originally formed or registered.

You can file the annual report up to 180 days before the expiration date.- Registered agent: Washington requires designation of a Registered Agent per RCW 23.95.415. Registered agents must consent to serve.

Requirements include a physical street address in Washington (no PO Boxes/PMBs) and an email address is required for Registered Agent and Principal Office fields per WAC 434-112-045(4). Commercial and noncommercial agent options are available.- Foreign qualification: Out-of-state (foreign) LLCs must file a Foreign Registration Statement to transact business in Washington.

The filing fee for foreign registration is shown as $180 (same online capability). A Statement of Withdrawal is used to voluntarily withdraw; that form carries $0 fee.- Maintenance and common filings: Amended filings (e.g., Amended Certificate) have fees (example: $30).

Name reservations can hold a name up to 180 days. Conversions and certain origination combinations have specified fees (example conversion fee components, e.g., $190 total in one example).

Reinstatements: if administratively dissolved, businesses can reinstate within 5 years; reinstatement requires paying annual report fees for each missed year plus a $140 penalty. Failure to reinstate within 5 years means creating a new entity and a new UBI.- Business licensing & UBI (Department of Revenue / Business Licensing Service): Many entity types (domestic corporations, partnerships, LLCs) must file with the Secretary of State before applying for a Washington business license.

Use the Business Licensing Wizard (Business Licensing Application) to register and receive a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number. Registration triggers DOR/My DOR account usage for tax filing.

DOR processing times: online ~10 business days (longer if endorsements needed); mailed applications can take up to six weeks. Application fees and endorsement fees vary by endorsements chosen.- Taxes & reporting obligations: Businesses meeting certain thresholds must register with the Department of Revenue for taxes including the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and sales tax collection.

DOR guidance and tax rates pages explain registration and filing obligations.- Portals & resources: Primary online portals are the Secretary of State CCFS ( https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov ) for corporate filings and the Business Licensing Wizard/My DOR ( https://secure.dor.wa.gov/gteunauth/?Link=wiz and https://secure.dor.wa.gov/home/Login ).

Contact info and SOS Corporations & Charities Division contact pages are available for assistance.Practical compliance checklist items (for blog content):1. Choose and confirm an available business name (use SOS name lookup; consider reserving for up to 180 days).

I conducted targeted web searches and page extractions from official Washington state resources (Secretary of State and Department of Revenue) and related pages to gather up-to-date, actionable information about Washington state regulatory filing support for LLCs and other business entities.

The research covered formation (Certificate of Formation), initial and annual report requirements and deadlines, registered agent rules, foreign qualification, business licensing/UBI registration and processing, key filing fees, reinstatement/penalty rules, online filing portals and practical compliance steps.

The summary below compiles the essential, state-specific facts and links you can use to build a comprehensive blog post and newsletter content for Washington business owners and LLC founders.Key findings (concise actionable summary):- Formation (Certificate of Formation): Washington’s Certificate of Formation for an LLC is governed by RCW 25.15.

The Secretary of State accepts online filing via the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS). Official filing fee: $180 (plus an online processing fee).

Expedited processing is available for an additional $100.- Initial report: An Initial Report (the first annual report) must be filed within 120 days of a domestic business’s origination. The initial report can be filed with the origination (formation) filing for no additional charge; if deferred, an additional fee applies.

The online Certificate of Formation includes a “Defer Initial Report” checkbox and guidance.- Annual report: Annual Reports are required yearly to maintain active status. An Annual Report is due by the business entity’s expiration date — the last day of the month in which the business was originally formed or registered.

You can file the annual report up to 180 days before the expiration date.- Registered agent: Washington requires designation of a Registered Agent per RCW 23.95.415. Registered agents must consent to serve.

Requirements include a physical street address in Washington (no PO Boxes/PMBs) and an email address is required for Registered Agent and Principal Office fields per WAC 434-112-045(4). Commercial and noncommercial agent options are available.- Foreign qualification: Out-of-state (foreign) LLCs must file a Foreign Registration Statement to transact business in Washington.

The filing fee for foreign registration is shown as $180 (same online capability). A Statement of Withdrawal is used to voluntarily withdraw; that form carries $0 fee.- Maintenance and common filings: Amended filings (e.g., Amended Certificate) have fees (example: $30).

Name reservations can hold a name up to 180 days. Conversions and certain origination combinations have specified fees (example conversion fee components, e.g., $190 total in one example).

Reinstatements: if administratively dissolved, businesses can reinstate within 5 years; reinstatement requires paying annual report fees for each missed year plus a $140 penalty. Failure to reinstate within 5 years means creating a new entity and a new UBI.- Business licensing & UBI (Department of Revenue / Business Licensing Service): Many entity types (domestic corporations, partnerships, LLCs) must file with the Secretary of State before applying for a Washington business license.

Use the Business Licensing Wizard (Business Licensing Application) to register and receive a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number. Registration triggers DOR/My DOR account usage for tax filing.

DOR processing times: online ~10 business days (longer if endorsements needed); mailed applications can take up to six weeks. Application fees and endorsement fees vary by endorsements chosen.- Taxes & reporting obligations: Businesses meeting certain thresholds must register with the Department of Revenue for taxes including the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and sales tax collection.

DOR guidance and tax rates pages explain registration and filing obligations.- Portals & resources: Primary online portals are the Secretary of State CCFS ( https://ccfs.sos.wa.gov ) for corporate filings and the Business Licensing Wizard/My DOR ( https://secure.dor.wa.gov/gteunauth/?Link=wiz and https://secure.dor.wa.gov/home/Login ).

Contact info and SOS Corporations & Charities Division contact pages are available for assistance.Practical compliance checklist items (for blog content):1. Choose and confirm an available business name (use SOS name lookup; consider reserving for up to 180 days).

Prepare Certificate of Formation and designate a Registered Agent (ensure physical WA address and consenting email).

File Certificate of Formation online via CCFS; pay $180 plus online processing fee; consider expedited $100 option if time-sensitive. 4. File Initial Report (with formation or within 120 days) — do not defer unless you plan and budget for any additional fee.

Apply for a Washington business license (Business Licensing Wizard) to get a UBI; register with DOR and set up My DOR for tax filings.

Track Annual Report due date (last day of formation month each year); file timely to avoid administrative dissolution, penalties, and reinstatement fees.

If foreign entity, file Foreign Registration Statement and ensure compliance with DOR licensing & tax registration.

Keep Registered Agent contact and address current and use email opt-in for SOS notifications.Next steps you can take with this research

- Use the summarized checklist and state-specific details above to draft a comprehensive blog post and newsletter. - Include direct links to the Secretary of State CCFS filing pages, SOS filing resource pages, Business Licensing Wizard, and DOR tax pages for readers to take action. - Consider adding sample timelines, fee tables, and an FAQ section (e.g., "What happens if I miss my annual report?" — administrative dissolution, $140 penalty on reinstatement plus annual report fees for missed years; must reinstate within 5 years).