Thursday, December 14, 2023

BLS December 2023 Update

Local government deposit dates set for 2024

The Office of State Treasurer has set its 2024 local government fund distribution dates. 

Find BLS's spreadsheet with helpful distribution and deposit linked at citypartners.dor.wa.gov. It can be downloaded. It is best viewed in the Microsoft Edge browser.

Funds collected by BLS are sent to the state Treasurer for deposit to cities, towns, and counties that partner with the service. In most cases, the deposits go to the same account as retail sales tax revenue. 


Liquor license fees adjusted for 2024

Several liquor license fees will revert to their full cost as a measure to reduce fees during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic expires this month.

In 2022, lawmakers approved House Bill 1359 to cut the costs of licenses. The bill passed with broad support and set an expiration date of December 31, 2023. Licenses renewed for January 2024 and after will reflect the up-to-date fee.




Egg handler/dealer licensing rules change in January

New standards for eggs sold at retail are set for 2024. In 2019, a law to address cage confinement for egg-laying hens was approved. BLS supports the state Department of Agriculture with issuing egg handler and egg dealer licenses

Businesses that renew one of those licenses or that will apply for one must agree to the updated information for 2024 and thereafter.


Many city fees updated for 2024

Several cities that are BLS local licensing partners are updating license fees for 2024. Web pages and information will be updated after January 1, 2024. 

A complete list of BLS city and town partners is https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/city-endorsements. Cities and towns listed below will reflect updated fees in 2024.

  • The City of Spokane is one of several cities with
    changes to business license fees in 2024.
    Bainbridge Island
  • Bothell
  • Brewster
  • Burien (rental only)
  • Concrete
  • East Wenatchee
  • Redmond
  • Spokane
  • Union Gap
  • Vancouver



Thursday, December 7, 2023

DOR online service maintenance from Dec. 15 to Dec. 18

DOR system maintenance starts Dec. 15


DOR online services including ATLAS, MyDOR, and Partner Portal will be offline from 5 p.m. Friday, December 15, 2023, to noon Monday, December 18, 2023.

Why is this happening?

Servers will be offline to make operating system version upgrades.

What is impacted?

External users will not be able to access My DOR, Business Lookup, or the Wizard.
Thank you for your patience while Revenue completes this critical maintenance.




Monday, October 30, 2023

BLS Fall 2023 Update

Revenue updates confidentiality forms

Revenue is introducing the newest version of the agency’s two most used forms, the Confidential Tax Information Authorization (CTIA) form 42-2446, and the Confidential Licensing Information Authorization (CLIA) form 700-002.

The forms are now in a more accessible-friendly template.
“We are pleased to introduce these forms in a format that is inclusive to a wider customer base,” said Janet Shimabukuro, Assistant Director for the agency’s Customer Experience and Communications (CEC) division.

 “The forms are easier to use for those who rely upon screen readers and provide an e-signature option so that they can be downloaded and completed without the need for printing.”

The forms also include updated authorization protocols related to confidential information as referenced in RCW 82.32.330.

While the most secure way to communicate with the agency is through the MyDOR portal, regular email and fax remain an option. These methods, while convenient, are not as secure. To protect our customers, the agency requires a signed pre-authorization form before discussing your private taxpayer or licensing information outside MyDOR. The CTIA and CLIA forms are also used to grant permission to share confidential business information with a third party.

 

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Penalty waiver in My DOR for eligible business licenses

Some licensees could get a break from late renewal penalty fees under a new law passed last spring. New features available through the My DOR login may simplify the waiver process.

One provision of the law, which took effect in July, would eliminate a penalty for those delayed in renewing a business license issued through BLS. 

The fee waiver would apply if the business has renewed all its licenses on time for the last 24 months. The business, however, would still need to pay penalty fees required by a regulatory agency or local government – such as a liquor license or city business license. BLS cannot waive those fees.

How do businesses request a late renewal penalty waiver?


1) Login to My DOR.

  • The system will show if the business is eligible for the waiver. Follow the instructions.
2) Send a web message.


3) Or, send mail to:

Business Licensing Service
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034


Renewals received after the expiration date are charged a late penalty fee of half of the endorsement fees up to $150.

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Training available for agency and city staff

BLS works with more than 200 local governments and dozens of regulatory programs at nine state agencies. Staff turnover is inevitable and training refreshers can be valuable. BLS staff can help you keep your skills sharp whether is using ATLAS to administer licensing or using data available through the Department of Revenue. 

More than 200 staff members of our BLS partners have taken trainings since Spring 2022. 

Reach out to dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov if you or your coworkers need training, 

On-demand videos, detailed documentation, or scheduled interactive training may be available for your needs. 




Friday, September 1, 2023

BLS September 2023 Update

BLS adds Snoqualmie as a licensing partner

Washington's city of the famous falls is starting the fall season as a BLS city partner. Snoqualmie will join BLS on September 19.

Snoqualmie, with a population of 14,000 along the banks of its eponymous river, sits in between Issaquah and North Bend, both longtime partners of the state's combined licensing one-stop.

More than 200 cities, towns, and counties access BLS's free licensing administration system  including 27 in King County communities. The state's most populous county is home to 2.5 million people and crucial state businesses, such as Costco and Microsoft.

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2024 fee updates and license changes due soon

Every summer, BLS requests that licensing partners review their processes for any changes for the next calendar year. 

For city and town partners, BLS can only make changes to fees or requirements with at least 75 days advance notice (RCW 35.90.070). 

If your city or town is making changes for January 2024, your leadership team should complete, sign, and return your Partner Change Request form by early October. 

All requested changes are subject to review by the Department of Revenue before being prioritized and scheduled. The most common change requests are updates to:

    Submit a change request soon 
    if you plan changes for 2024.
  • Licensing requirements 
  • Fees
  • Web pages or forms
  • Laws and/or policies
Questions? Email dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov.






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Small Business Fair(s) set for September 23

The Department of Revenue will again participate in the Washington Small Business Fair this year. The annual event is moving to new locations. The Pierce College campus in Puyallup will host the event in Western Washington while the Women's Club in downtown Spokane will host the event in Eastern Washington. Attendees will gain business skills in easy-to-understand seminars led by industry experts.

Current and aspiring small business owners should attend. Complete information, including location addresses and schedules, is online at bizfair.org.

No registration is required. The event is free.


Tuesday, August 1, 2023

BLS email solution saves time, paper, and postage

License documents, letters, and renewal notices
 are now sent by email to the address associated
with the licensee's SAW account
To reduce response time and decrease costs, Revenue’s Business Licensing Service (BLS) now sends license renewal notices and Business License documents by email.

Licensees should verify the email address in their Secure Access Washington (SAW) profile is current to get reminders, letters, and license documents by email.

If there is no SAW web logon associated with the account in My DOR, the license document would be mailed to the mailing address on file.

Revenue sends the Business License document by email as an attachment to any SAW email addresses associated with that account. Licensees can see the license document through the My DOR account and can reprint the license on demand.

If the customer contacts Revenue requesting a paper business license, BLS can still mail it.
Licensees can edit their SAW email address at this link:

https://dor.wa.gov/manage-business/my-dor-help/update-your-account-information#


Monday, July 10, 2023

BLS and state tax systems unavailable on Saturday, July 15

The Department of Revenue IT team will upgrade infrastructure equipment at the State Data Center
from

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on
Saturday, July 15.

These services will be interrupted that day.

ATLAS

Partner Portal

DOR.WA.GOV

My DOR for tax accounts

No action is required by users. 



Friday, June 9, 2023

June 2023 BLS Partner Post Update

Updated:
Paperless notices starting in July August

BLS will send license renewal notices and business license documents by email starting in July August 2023. 

The email address on the business license account will receive documents as part of the Department of Revenue's ongoing efforts to streamline service, reduce costs, and cut down on waste.


We have been preparing customers for the changes by adding news to renewal notices sent in earlier this year. 

Customers should review the contact information in their license accounts using My DOR to ensure they get documents at their preferred email address.

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Asotin County joins licensing partnership

Asotin County in southeast Washington linked its local business registration requirement to the state Business Licensing Service this month.

The county is home to more than 400 active businesses. Later this year, the city of Snoqualmie will join most of its King County neighbors as a BLS partner city.

More than 200 Washington municipalities are linked to the system for local licensing. Revenue’s administration system is free to counties, cities, and towns.

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Annual Local Government meeting set for July 25

The Department of Revenue’s annual Local Government Partnership meeting is going virtual again in 2023. 


The online-only meeting is set for:

8:30 a.m. to Noon
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Participants will join by Zoom.

Get agenda information and a meeting invitation by signing up for Revenue’s local government partnership mailing list. Scroll down to click “Local Government” under the Agency Partners heading.


Meetings are open to those working in local governments and related public-sector stakeholders. CPE credits will be available for those who qualify.