BLS Partner Post - May-June 2022 Update

Paperless notices starting in summer 2023

BLS will email business licenses and renewal notices to the email address on the business license account to reduce mail. 

To prepare businesses for this change, we are including information starting with the June 2022 renewal notices. The insert will direct customers to update their email addresses on their license accounts in My DOR.

All licensees will benefit:

• Renewal reminders will be emailed directly
• Reminders will be available on the first day of eligibility
• Less paper waste reduces costs and helps the environment.

Updated verbiage for cannabis laws & licensing

The word “cannabis” will replace the word “marijuana” throughout state law this year. This will impact information on Revenue’s website, the names of cannabis business license endorsements, and other items.

The bill is a technical change only. It doesn’t change the impact of the law. "No substantive legal changes are intended or implied,” according to the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB). More information is on the LCB website.

Please review your customer-facing communication -- websites, forms, etc. -- and update the word "marijuana" to "cannabis" where practical.

Renewal notices now sent throughout the month

Renewal notices are now being divided into smaller batches each month with one batch mailed each week throughout the month prior to expiration. This is a change from the previous method of sending all monthly renewal notices on one date at once. Spreading out the mailings helps reduce call volumes and telephone hold times.

More cities set for spring and summer partnerships

Northport and Kettle Falls are the final cities in Northeastern Washington to complete their BLS partnership this spring. Streamlined services now link to all cities in Spokane County and more than 200 cities statewide, making it easier than ever for businesses like plumbers and roofers to manage local licensing across many municipalities in a single annual transaction.

Also joining BLS soon are the North Central Washington municipalities of Elmer City, Nespelem, and Pateros. Later this summer, the city of Mossyrock – nestled in the Lewis County valley between Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier – and the suburban city of Auburn southeast of Seattle will join BLS.

Join us for the 2022 Local Government Partnership Meeting

This year we will feature guest speakers from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC).

Topics will include:

• Economic Revenue Forecast Update
• Property Tax Levies
• Unclaimed Property Law Changes

Visit dor.wa.gov/lgpmeeting for more information.

Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Location: Zoom only

To request special accommodations or language services, please email alexisw@dor.wa.gov.