Possible shutdown of state government

As of today, the state Legislature has not passed a new operating budget. State agencies are notifying customers of potential impacts to services.

MyDOR will be taken offline tonight at 11:55 pm to allow time for processing electronic payments. We will not accept online business license applications and renewals until a new state operating budget is enacted.

We sent several secure messages to businesses with June 30, 2017, renewal deadlines encouraging them to renew early. Businesses can send applications or renewals by U.S. mail during the shutdown.

Other impacts beginning on Monday, July 3, if a new budget is not signed into law by June 30:

• Licensing fees and revenues will not be funded to partners
• Business licenses and renewal notices will not be mailed
• DOR offices will be closed

The bls.dor.wa.gov website will remain online to provide licensing information, and partners should be able to access Partner Portal.

BLS Partner News Update

ATLAS Service Pack

ATLAS is getting a few system updates Friday, June 23.  Major functions will be largely unchanged. Enhancements to help city and agency users are described in the linked document. Minor changes to My DOR used by businesses are also included. 

Incomplete Report Now Easier to Use

The Partner Incomplete Application report can now be divided into easy-to-use groupings.
Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Payment (RFP) are now grouped together. Another grouping, meanwhile, lists applications that have “auto-withdrawn” because the customer did not respond to an RFI or RFP for 120 days. All incomplete applications will be auto-withdrawn after 120 days.
You will create either the RFI/RFP group or Auto-Withdrawn group every time you run a report. We think you’ll like the simpler way to sort businesses that may need prompting to complete their business application versus those that need to re-apply.

Reminder: Update Your Contact Info

Please answer a few short questions at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BLS_contact 
We are updating our records. We need the best contact information for your local licensing team. We have yet to hear from these cities:

Buckley, Carbonado, Carnation, Clyde Hill, College Place, DuPont, Duvall, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Granite Falls, Kenmore, Lacey, Lake Stevens, Leavenworth, Liberty Lake, Long Beach, Longview, Maple Valley, Marysville, Millwood, Milton, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Newcastle, North Bend, Port Orchard, Pullman, Ruston, Sammamish, Sedro Woolley, Selah, Shoreline, Skykomish, Spokane Valley, Stanwood, Sultan, and West Richland.

Customer Service Survey Coming this Summer

BLS is reaching out to get your insights and opinions. Early this summer, we will send a survey link asking for your candid input on BLS services and support. You may share the survey link with all BLS partner staff members. Responses are limited to one response for each person.

Mount Vernon joins BLS

Mount Vernon, the county seat and largest city in Skagit County, now coordinates its local licensing requirements with the state Business Licensing Service.

The City of the Soft Petal, nationally renowned for its springtime tulips, has streamlined its fees and processes with BLS help businesses apply for and renew business licenses.

The partnership is effective June 1. Welcome, Mount Vernon!