UPDATED: BLS Toll-Free Phone System Down Temporarily

UPDATED: All phone issues were resolved at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The (800) 451-7985 number is working again.
Thanks!
--------- Partners,

Our toll-free phone line is not able to receive phone calls at this time. Our technicians are working the issue.
(800) 451-7985
We expect this to be working again soon and will update this space.

Please advise the public that bls@dor.wa.gov can be used as alternative for the short term. Information is also posted at business.wa.gov/BLS.

Thanks,

~BLS Partnership Services

Network Maintenance Beginning Night of Dec 13.

Network maintenance will be performed Thursday, December 13, 2012, beginning at 10:00 pm until 2:00 am, Friday, December 14, 2012.

Expect interruptions to the following services:

• DOR Internet Web sites and services such as DOR.WA.GOV, efile Services, business licensing, and Payment Services
• Email and voicemail
• Connections between DOR and other state agencies

Thank you,

~BLS Partnership Services

Server maintenance beginning evening of Dec. 6

Server maintenance will be performed Thursday, December 6, 2012, beginning at 7:00 pm until 6:00 am, Friday, December 7, 2012.

Expect interruptions to the following services:

• Websites such as Business Licensing Service, efile, and claimyourcash.org
• Connections between Revenue and other state agencies.
• Revenue’s email and voicemail systems

Thank you,

  

~BLS Partnership Services

 

 

Nov. 30 Reports Error Fixed

City Partners:

BLS systems failed to properly generate and distribute month-end reports on Friday, Nov. 30.

If your city was among the 42 cites recieving incomplete email notices Friday, we apologize.

*** The issue was fixed on Saturday and corrected reports were issued dated Dec. 1 ***

Disregard and delete the incorrect files generated on Nov. 30. Used the files dated Dec. 1 only.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

~BLS Partnership Services

2013 State Treasurer Local Government Deposit schedule

The schedule for the State Treasurer city revenue distribution dates is linked for your reference. 

The schedule lists dates the data is picked up. It also lists dates the funds are distributed.

Column C shows the BLS run date that picks up the various revenue distributions completed since the previous run date.

Column F provides the corresponding date on which the money processed will be available. The deposit goes into the account arranged with the State Treasurer.

If you have any questions, please contact BLS Partnership Services at DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov.

SecureAccess Washington down on night of Dec. 4

SecureAccess Washington will be down for maintenance from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.

Thank you,

~BLS Partnership Services










     

2012 Conference Wrap-up - Your Input & Our Thanks

Partners,

Thank you to all of you who were part of the 2012 BLS City Conference.

We provided materials to those partners who couldn't attend, but requested more information.  We've now completed our work tabulating your input and have a brief summary available compiling the conference feedback from all our partners.

As we consider how to keep improving BLS for 2013, this is the perfect time to give thanks to those of you who help BLS work for Washington businesses and communities.

We are sending good tidings of the season to you, your colleagues, and your families on thisThanksgiving holiday weekend.

Warm wishes,

~BLS Partnership Services

BLS Welcomes Spokane!

Spokane is the capital of the Inland Empire. The Lilac City is home to more than 200,000 residents, and today it's the newest partner of the Business Licensing Service.

The bustling center of industry, education, and medicine in northeast Washington hosts more than 15,000 businesses. The city joins its neighbors Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and Millwood as full BLS partners making local license registrations and renewals easier for enterprises of all sizes.

SAW Maintenance Late Wednesday

Maintenance on Secure Access Washington (SAW) maintenance will be performed Wednesday night, November 14.

It will be unavailable between 9:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

BLS City Conference survey in your email

Once again, we extend our gratitude to those who joined us for the BLS 2012 City Conference last week. The discussions generated excellent ideas and questions.


We value your feedback. Please take a few minutes to offer your candid opinions completing the anonymous survey sent to you. If you attended, but didn't get our email Wednesday, please let us know at DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov and we'll send a link.

Thanks in advance for your candid comments!

***If you couldn't attend or wish to share some of the information with your coworkers and peers, enter your information here and we'll package up the materials for you next week.***

~BLS Partnership Services

City Conference Survey on the way!

Partners --

Thanks to the nearly 40 of you who joined us in Renton Thursday for the 2012 BLS City Conference.

We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you. In some cases, it had been years since the last visit. In a few casees, we were meeting for the first time. We simply can't let as much time pass before we do that again.

Here’s an electronic copy of the Governor’s message thanking you for your efforts to support business in our state.

This week,we'll send a survey asking you how we did. We look forward to your input and are anxious to answer any questions or concerns you may still have.

Have a terrific week!

~BLS Partner Services

Partnership Services welcomes Karen

BLS City Conference 10/25 - Lunch Orders Due

Just two hours remain to register for the 2012 BLS City Conference.

We have more than 30 guests confirmed with room for just a few more.

Remember, if you need directions or other info, it's all here for you.


  IMPORTANT LUNCH INFORMATION

You may order lunch for delivery if you email by 5 pm today (Tuesday).
Select from list below. Gretchen’s Shoebox delivers at 11:30 am Thursday.

Email your orders to dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov. Put “Conference Lunch” in the subject line.

Bring a personal check for payment Thursday. No cash. No credit cards.

Sandwiches - $13 plus tax

With Tim's Cascade potato chips, fresh fruit cup, chocolate chip cookie, Athena bottled water & utensils.


1) California Club Box Lunch

Oven-roasted chicken breast, bacon, avocado, bleu cheese scallion spread, lettuce & tomato on Schwartz Brothers Bakery sourdough bread.

2) Turkey Havarti Box Lunch

Oven-roasted turkey breast, Havarti, cucumbers, lettuce & tomato on Schwartz Brothers Bakery 100% Honey Whole Wheat. Served with mayonnaise & mustard on the side.

3) Focaccia Margherita Box Lunch- VEGETARIAN

Fresh mozzarella, slow-roasted tomatoes, whole-leaf basil, with arugula & creamy pesto spread on our own Schwartz Brothers Bakery freshly baked focaccia bread.

Gluten Free Salads - $14 plus tax

Includes a carrot packet, a fruit cup, a low-fat yogurt cup, and a bottle of water


1. Balsamic Chicken Salad

2. Chop Chop Salad

Petite Lunches - $10 plus tax

Includes apple slices and chocolate chip cookie; no bottled water



1. Caesar Salad Petite Lunch

2. Egg Salad Sandwich Petite Lunch

3. Green Salad Petite Lunch

4. Ham & Swiss Sandwich Petite Lunch

5. Turkey & Provolone Sandwich Petite Lunch

Just 10 spots left for 2012 BLS City Conference

It’s your last chance to RSVP for the 2012 BLS City Conference.

 

Just 10 spots remain for Thursday’s event in Renton.

 

Are you wondering…

• …How do I get there?
• …Is there coffee and water?
• …And what about lunch? 

Answers are here for you.

 

If you previously registered, we have your information. Share this message with colleagues. Tell them time is running out to register.

 

 

 We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

 

 

~BLS Partnership Services

You're Invited to the 2012 BLS City Conference

Join us for the 2012 BLS City Conference.

RSVP NOW!


What to expect:

• 8:30 a.m. start at Renton City Hall
• MLS/BLS updates since 2011
• System training with question/answer session
• Partner discussion
• Future BLS planning and development

See the complete agenda here.

BLS Credit Card Fee Payments

Partners --

Some cities' BLS payments for the credit card processing fees are being misdirected, which may cause delays in credits to their accounts. These payments are the 2.5% of the city business license fees that businesses pay by credit card.

Help us correctly track your payments and apply credits. Be sure to remit payments to:

                                  Department of Revenue
                                  Revenue Accounting
                                  PO Box 47464
                                  Olympia WA 98504-7464

Make checks payable to:

                                  Department of Revenue

One last thing: Be sure to include a copy of the billing invoice or the top tear-off section with the check. That  helps ensure that your billing payments are applied correctly.

Thanks in advance for your help.

BLS Partnership Services

BLS SYSTEM MAINTENANCE NOTICE: The BLS internet application will be down - 10:00 p.m. Thursday, October 4 until 12:00 a.m. Friday, October 5

Our online applications, including the Business License Application, will be down for maintenance from

10 p.m. Thursday, October 4 through 12 a.m. Friday, October 5.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

BLS City Conference October 25 in Renton

Partners,

Thanks to all of you who gave their preferred date for the BLS City Conference next month.

More people are available on Thursday, October 25. Content for current partners will be offered from the morning into the early afternoon.

The majority of 55 city partners weighed in this week. Of those, most chose Oct. 25.

Unfortunately, we can't please everyone. We are unable to support two dates or locations this year. We will, however, offer all partners a chance to participate in portions of the conference and offer complete wrap-up information for all those interested.

Times and a complete agenda will be announced soon.

Thanks again.

BLS Partnership Services

Site Maintenance Late Friday

Partners,

A heads up to you and your local businesses:

Our online applications, including the Business License Application, will be down for maintenance from 11:30 p.m. Friday through 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

CONFERENCE: HOLD THE DATE! Thursday, October 25 - Business Licensing Service - City Partner Conference

Following is a general city partner communication.  Please share this information with the rest of your business licensing staff.

Hello city partners!

It has been over 4 years since our last Business Licensing Service (BLS) city partner conference and we have a lot of information to share with you!

Please hold the following date open on your calendars:

Wednesday, October 17 Thursday, October 25

Invitations and more information to follow in the next few weeks.

SURVEY SAYS: You are Helping BLS Improve

Partners -

Happy Friday! Work has started on our long-term plans for a BLS system replacement. We're in the very early stages. It's too soon to know how enahncements will be added or when. We'll update you in 2012 and 2013 as we know more. A total system replacement is still years away, but enhancements are ongoing.

Where do you come in?
Some of you will be contacted this month to participate in surveys and workshops this summer and fall. Email invitations will be sent soon. Dennis, Eric, and Jan will coordinate timing with those of you contacted.

What's next?
Our consultants are compiling our existing data and ready to add your input and data to find opportunities for improvement. They will wrap up work in January 2013.

When will we hear more?
Our 2012 BLS City Partner Conference is scheduled for fall. Look for inviations in September. We'll also report our findings and results here as they're compiled.

Field office changes coming

The Business Licensing Service will remove field office locations from the BLS website and list only the Tumwater BLS office for the physical drop-off location for Business License Applications.

The goal is to have virtually all filing completed electronically and to no longer accept them in the field offices. This will improve speed and accuracy and result in faster turnaround times for businesses. The change also impacts Labor and Industries (LNI), Employment Security (ESD), as well as Department of Revenue offices, which will no longer be listed as drop-off sites.

For those that choose not to apply or renew online, they may to mail paperwork to BLS headquarters in Tumwater. BLS will encourage people to use kiosks or a computer to file online.

Working the BLS Website Tonight - 7 pm - 9 pm

Partners,

Our systems maintenance work continues this week. BLS applications and renewals will be unavailable after 7 p.m. Thursday. We expect the down time to last just an hour or two.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Parntership Services

Welcome, Bellingham - Our Newest BLS Partner.

It’s a city of more than 75,000 with west-facing hillsides looking out toward the San Juan Islands. It’s the seat of Whatcom County. And it's the former home to two-time Oscar winner Hillary Swank.

Now, it’s the newest partner of the Business Licensing Service. Today, we welcome Bellingham, the City of Subdued Excitement.

Our excitement is not subdued. We’re pleased as punch to have Bellingham join more than 50 other Washington cities in combined licensing to streamline processes for both businesses and local governments.

UPDATED: Online Applications Down Briefly at 6 p.m.

At 9:16 p.m. Thursday, we got this message from our IT experts.

"Our network, VOIP phones, and applications are back up and appear to be operating normally."

We hope you and your businesses were not negatively impacted.

---
Partners --

A heads up for you all. The Dept of Revenue is doing some network maintenance at 6 p.m. this evening, July 12. The outage is expected to last one hour.

Several systems will be down this evening including the online licensing application at business.wa.gov/BLS.

Other systems affected are:

• My Account at dor.wa.gov
• Unclaimed Property at claimyourcash.org

If you have questions or get comments from businesses, please remember you can reach us by email or phone, 360.705.6777.

Thanks in advance for your patience.

Local B&O Payments vs. State B&O Payments

Should a business Pay Local B&O?

That depends on where that business goes.


Many Washington cities impose a local Business and Occupation (B&O) tax. This tax is in addition to the B&O tax imposed by the state of Washington.


The state Department of Revenue and its Business Licensing Service do not administer or collect local B&O taxes.


State and local B&O are not the same either in rates or to what business activities are taxable.

The 39 cities listed below levy a local B&O tax. Click on the chart to get the rates and activities from the Association of Washington Cities’ website.

Questions/Clarifications

Need a tax issue clarified? Got a licensing question for BLS? Tell us!  Email dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov.

Find a Local Sales Tax Rate - There's an App for That

Partners,

The local sales tax rate in Washington can be different from one side of the street to the other.

So, how can a contractor or delivery person know if the rate is.078 or .087 where he's standing?

Well, there's an app for that.

The Department of Revenue created its first app for users to look up sales and use tax rates for any Washington location from an iPhone or iPad.

It's free, of course! Find it at dor.wa.gov/TaxRateMobile.

It will help businesses that make deliveries or provide retail services in different locations.

Use GPS, street addresses, or zip codes to look up rates. Save the information to a list, or forward it to another phone or email address – making the transfer of information from a job site or delivery location to a main office quick and easy.

Tell your friends, customers, and local businesses to download the app today. Look for the Android version in the Google Play marketplace within a few months.

Uncovering the City Addendum

Partners,

We've heard from some of you that the City Business License Addendum (pdf) can be hard to find online.

Thank you for letting us know!

We're always trying to make it easier for you and also for businesses. Of course, we also must maintain best practices for web usability, which includes keeping content pages and forms pages  separate.

Here's our first attempt to make it easier to find the Addendum (pdf). We've added it at the top of the city list, which is under the Specialty Licenses list from the BLS home page at business.wa.gov/BLS.

See the highlight in the image below. If there's more we can do, don't hesitate to tell us. We're anxious to know what works best for you and your local businesses.

DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov
or
(360) 705-6777

eCheck Already Saving 20% on Credit Card Fees

Partners,

Last month BLS started offering eCheck as a way to pay business license and endorsement fees. Also called "Automated Clearing House" (ACH), eCheck is way to pay from your checking account when filing online. No processing fees are passed on to partners. Simple is good. Simple and free is better.

Ready for some even better news?

In the first two weeks, already 20 percent of payments received are coming via eCheck.

Of the more than $1.1 million received since mid-May, more than $220,000 was remitted by eCheck.

That means some partners may see reduced billing for credit card processing fees. It's a strong start for savings to your bottom line. We'll keep you posted as more trends emerge.

BLS Partnership Services

Mailing Compliance Notices? Let Us Help.

City Partners:

As you know, BLS provides City of Interest reports to help you know who is doing business in your city. This is a great tool to boost compliance rates and revenues for your city.

If you are sending out notices with our contact information (below), please tell us in advance and let us know if we can help. Our team is ready to pitch in anytime you need.




Click to see Full Size City of Interest report

 
BLS Contact Info for Businesses
Business Licensing Service
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034
Phone: 1-800-451-7985
Email: bls@dor.wa.gov

Let us know if you have questions.

Thanks!

BLS Partnership Services

360.705.6777



Richland Office Reopens at 12:30 pm Thursday

The Richland Field office is temporarily closed to the public due to flooding caused by a broken valve. Employees remain in the office and are available by telephone. 

The office will reopen this afternoon at 12:30 PM.   

Signs direct visitors to http://dor.wa.gov or if immediate assistance is needed to call Taxpayer Services at 1-800-647-7706 or Business Licensing at 1-800-451-7985.

BLS Systems Transition Successful

What has happened?

The Business Licensing Service (BLS) has successfully moved all of their licensing systems and licensing data from the Department of Licensing to the Department of Revenue.

What does this mean for BLS and our partners?

The Business Licensing Service systems are now completely housed at the Department of Revenue. This will allow us to continue with further system and program enhancements to better serve our licensing partners.

What do you do if you start receiving calls from business owners?

If you receive calls from business owners regarding links, Internet applications, Internet renewals, or other system functions that are not operating correctly, please contact Partnership Services immediately at DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov so we can look into the matter and seek a resolution.

A special thank you

We want to thank all of our licensing partners for being patient and working so closely with BLS over the last six months. There have been many changes to our BLS processes and references during this time. Your continued help and teamwork have been a great help to us during this transition and want you to know how much we appreciate you.

Dennis, Eric, Jan & Linda
BLS Partnership Services

(360) 705-6777

E-check Option Offers $aving$ for BLS Partners

GOOD NEWS! BLS to add E-check to the Internet payment processes

E-check is a BLS Internet payment option effective May 21, 2012.  You may also see references for E-check also known as an “Automated Clearing House” or “ACH”.

If you like, track your quarterly billing statements over the next year. Let us know how much benefit you are receiving from this enhancement. We are always interested in hearing about how our BLS enhancements affect our partners. 

If you have questions, let us know.

BLS Partnership Services
(360) 705-6777 DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov

Reminder! BLS System Offline Tomorrow - 5/18

Reminder:  BLS licensing systems will unavailable May 18 through May 20

What is happening?

The Business Licensing Service (BLS) will move all online licensing systems from the Department of Licensing to the Department of Revenue.

When is this happening?

The BLS licensing system and all BLS online application and renewal systems will be taken down at

7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 18 and brought back up on Monday, May 21.

What can I expect?

It’s important that business owner’s finish partially completed applications or renewals before May 18, as the information will be deleted during the move and the applicant will have to start over. 

Reports that normally generate on Fridays or Saturdays will arrive a day later than usual.

How should I prepare?

Please add a note on your website from now until Monday, May 21, to notify local business owners who may be planning to apply or renew electronically, during this time period.

Can business owners still submit paper applications or renewals during this time?

Yes. This outage only affects online applications and renewals. Paper applications and renewals will be processed without interruption. We encourage online processing.  The online licensing systems will be down for a very short time period. It is still quicker to wait until the online licensing systems are back up, than to mail it into the Business Licensing Service.

URGENT: BLS systems move from DOL to DOR update!

The BLS licensing system (HOST) will be operational on Friday, May 18 until 5:00 p.m.

The BLS internet services will be down beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 18 and will be back up on Monday, May 21.

What’s happening?

Beginning the morning of May 18, we will be transferring the following online applications from DOL to the DOR’s Business Licensing Service (BLS):

•   Business License Application (IBLA)
•   Business License Renewal (SOLAR)
•   Corporation and LLC Renewal (ICRNL)

What is the impact?

We will bring the internet applications down at 8 a.m. Friday, May 18. Normal operations will be back on Monday, May 21.  Customers won’t be able to start a new application or renewal, or access saved work during the transfer.

If you talk to some who is working on their business application or renewal…

Encourage them to finish and submit before May 18.  Customers must finish partially completed applications and renewals before the transfer, or they will lose their data and will have to start over.

URLs will change – Effective Monday, May 21, 2012

Once the online applications have been moved over to BLS, the URLs will change. If you have bookmarks to the online applications, you’ll need to update them. Please make customers aware of these changes too.

 

Online System	New URL
Business License Application	https://fortress.wa.gov/dor/bls/IMBA
Business License Renewal	https://fortress.wa.gov/dor/bls/SOLAR
Corporation or LLC Renewal	https://fortress.wa.gov/dor/bls/CRNL

BLS System Down Friday

What is happening?

The Business Licensing Service (BLS) will move all licensing systems and related data from the Department of Licensing (DOL) to the Department of Revenue (DOR).  The BLS licensing system will be down from May 18 to May 20. We expect to return to normal operations on Monday, May 21.

When will this occur?

Implementation will be effective Monday, May 21.

What can I expect?

• It’s important that business owner’s finish partially completed applications or renewals before May 18, as the information will be deleted during the move and the applicant will have to start over. 
• Reports that normally generate on Fridays or Saturdays will arrive the following week.

Can business owners still submit paper applications or renewals during this time?

Yes. Paper applications and renewals will be accepted without interruption. 

The BLS licensing system will be down for a very short time period. It is still quicker to wait until the online licensing systems are back up, than to mail the application and information into the Business Licensing Service.

DOR Closes Accounts of Some Non-Reporting Businesses

Your offices may get questions this week as the Department of Revenue mailed notices to 19,553 annual taxpayers informing them their tax reporting account has been administratively closed. Notices could arrive Tuesday and thereafter.

The Department occasionally will close accounts that do not report any gross income for two consecutive years.

If a taxpayer believes their account should remain open, they can contact Revenue and request that their tax reporting account be reopened. 

No Business Applications May 18 - May 20

The online Business License Application is moving to the Business Licensing Service on May 18, 2012.

Tell your customers they won't be able to start a new online application or access saved work during that time.

It's important they finish partially completed applications before May 18, or they'll have to start over.

The system should be available again Monday, May 21, 2012. 

Thanks for your patience.

Incompletes/Delinquents Listed in DOR SFT folder

City Partners:

Something to keep in mind as you look for your reports this week....

The Incomplete Applications and Delinquent Endorsement List report deliveries will be changing from EOM/group email address deliveries to the DOR SFT folder.

1^st Saturday of the month – Incomplete accounts – first run May 5.

2^nd Saturday of the month – Delinquent accounts – first run May 10.

If you need help accessing the report(s) or are experiencing other concerns regarding the report deliveries, please contact us at DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov.

The Roadmap for Registering Businesses

Gearing up to start a business can be intimidating. Now, you can help steer new business owners you meet in the right direction. They can set course for the New Business Owner Roadmap, a free online publication to help them navigate their way to a successful business startup in Washington.

No Line Breaks In Your Email? Here's Some Help!

City Partners:
How do the emails with the daily list of reports BLS look to you?
Is the formatting jumbled?

If so, does the list of your reports run together like this?


Click image to enlarge and sharpen



If you're using Microsoft Outlook, try changing a setting to make it look like this:

 

Click image to enlarge and sharpen










In Microsoft Outlook, go to:

Tools -> Options -> Preferences -> Email Options 

If the option, "Remove extra line breaks in plain text messages" is checked, uncheck it.

(See the outlined option the image below. UNCHECK that option.)

The lines will no longer jumble in your incoming emails, though they may be longer on the page.

If you have questions, let us konw at dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov.

City of Interest & Pending Accounts in SFT (Tumbleweed)

Effective, Monday, April 30, all city partners will receive the City of Interest and Pending Accounts reports  in the SFT folder.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact BLS Partnership Services.

Keep Track of More with the Comments Feature

City Partners:
When you're tracking information in the BLS system, remember you can use the Comments feature to track information for your city. It's simple if you follow the instructions in this image:

   

Click image to sharpen and enlarge

 Track information such as:

• Additional info needed
• Home occupation businesses
• Zoning requirements
• Planning Department reviews needed
• Inspections needed
• Etc.

Using the Comments feature helps you out, in part, by reducing questions from BLS staff seeking information on your licensees' pending accounts.

Got other tips or tricks to share? Tell us at dorblspartner@dor.wa.gov.

 

Click image to sharpen and enlarge

Account Financial Control Summary (AFCS) Format Improved

What is new?

The Account Financial Control Summary (AFCS) report format and content have been improved for our city partners. 

When will implementation occur?

The new AFCS report format will be implemented on Friday, April 20.

Where will the report be delivered?

The new report will be delivered to the city SFT folder starting Friday, April 20, for all city partners.

What is changing?

The funding dates (the ARD dates being picked up in the deposit) and the funds deposit date information has been moved to the top of the report.  This information used to be located at the bottom of the report.

The second (last) page of the report has a new feature called the Funds Summary by License Type.

This area of the document will show a breakdown the total funds distribution by the license type for your city. 

The license types provided in your city’s AFCS report will be based on the types of licenses processed by BLS for your particular city.   

Below is an example of the old AFCS report format and an example of the new enhancement format for comparison. Click the image to enlarge. Enhancement changes are highlighted for your reference. If you have questions, please contact DORBLSPartner@dor.wa.gov

Click images to enlarge and sharpen

Click images to enlarge and sharpen

BLS Systems Unvailable May 18 - May 20

What is happening?

The Business Licensing Service (BLS) will move all online licensing systems from the Department of Licensing to the Department of Revenue.

When is this happening?

Online systems will be taken down at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, May 18 and brought back up on

Monday, May 21.

What can I expect?

It’s important that business owner’s finish partially completed applications or renewals before May 18, as the information will be deleted during the move and the applicant will have to start over. 

Reports that normally generate on Fridays or Saturdays will arrive a day later than usual.

How should I prepare?

Please add a note on your website from now until Monday, May 21, to notify local business owners who may be planning to apply or renew electronically, during this time period.

Can business owners still submit paper applications or renewals during this time?

Yes. This outage only affects online applications and renewals.  Paper applications and renewals will be processed without interruption.  We encourage online processing.  The online licensing systems will be down for a very short time period.  It is still quicker to wait until the online licensing systems are back up, than to mail it into the Business Licensing Service.

No More JAVA Conflicts for BLS Logins

Good news!  The JAVA upgrade is here!
Remember having to load an old version of Java to get the HOD_BLS access to work properly? 
Well, no more. 
No need for your IT group to continually monitor for JAVA upgrades and no further need to bypass JAVA upgrades. HOD_BLS is now compatible with current versions of JAVA software.
Your JAVA load was updated with your first login that occurred after April 1, 2012. 

Instructions

Users of Secure Access Washington that use favorites or shortcuts to the access these services, it is recommended you use the following addresses for your shortcuts and/or favorites.

                        TIP: Make this a browser “Favorite” or add a desktop shortcut.
If you experience problems with Host-On-Demand (HOD_BLS) loading correctly, such as system stall outs or error messages popping up, please contact the CTS Service Desk for assistance. 
Local:              (360) 753-2454
Toll Free:         (888) 241-7597
E-mail:             servicedesk@cts.wa.gov 

FTP Reports Moving to SFT (Secure File Transfer)

Partners:

Secure File Transfer (SFT) BLS report handlers be getting new DOR SFT logons and temporary passwords.  Designated persons will get two emails:  one email will provide you with your new logon and the other will provide you a temporary password that you will want to change to your own password.

FTP Reports

Your BLS Standard Report delivery (Delinquent Accounts reports, ARDs, etc.) currently delivered to your File Transfer Protocol (FTP folder- accessed using the fortress URL) will soon be delivered to your new SFT folder.

Unlike FTP, Secure File Transfer will allow users to update and manage their own passwords. SFT passwords expire every 90 days. Reports are retained in the SFT folder for 13 days.  After 13 days, they will automatically delete out of the folder.

Access your new SFT folder at https://sft.wa.gov/.

There will be two types of documents showing in the folder:

·        a single MS word document containing the daily Standard Reports (.doc) and

·        other documents and reports showing as .txt files.

If your DOR BLS SFT logon or password is not working, revoked, or expires, contact the

SFT Admin Group at DORDLSFTAdmin@dor.wa.gov.

Optional Reports

Your Optional Report deliveries will also change from FTP to SFT.

Optional reports received in a text file format include the following:

Current licensees file: all active and held accounts for your city.

Welcome file: licensees in your city that were approved during the month – can be used to mail-merge a welcome letter, if desired.

Terminated accounts file: list of all licensees terminated during the month.

Vendor file: all active, held, pending, suspended, and recently terminated or withdrawn accounts.  This file can be used by a ‘tax discovery agent.’

Optional Report Instructions

Attached are instructions for accessing the SFT folder and downloading your reports which show as a text document (those with a .txt file extension).  The instructions for converting them to an Excel spreadsheet are the same as those used with your FTP folder.  

If you have password problems, contact DORDLSFTAdmin@dor.wa.gov directly for assistance.

If you have general questions regarding this communication, contact BLSDORPartner@dor.wa.gov .