Form BLS 700 028, Business License Application – Washington

What is BLS 700 028?

Who needs to file BLS 700 028?

When to file BLS 700 028

Documents you need

• A check for the total amount due, payable to Department of Revenue, when you mail the paper form; it covers the non-refundable processing fee plus any endorsement or trade name fees.
• Additional pages listing owners and spouses, if there are more owners than the form has room for (the form says to attach them if needed).
• The documents required by publication F700-118-000, completed before you check the under-age-14 box in section 5c.
• A Voluntary Election form from the Employment Security Department (esd.wa.gov), only if a profit corporation wants Unemployment Insurance coverage for corporate officers.
• Form F213-042-000, required before Workers' Compensation coverage for owners starts; L&I sends it to you if you answer Yes in section 5h.
• Form F213-112-000, required before elective Workers' Compensation coverage for excluded employment starts; L&I sends it to you if you answer Yes in section 5i.

How to fill out BLS 700 028

1. 1

   Enter the owner name and UBI

   At the top of page 2, enter the Legal Entity/Owner Name and, if you already have one, your Unified Business Identifier (UBI).

2. 2

   Check the purpose of application

   In section 1, check all purposes that apply, such as Open/reopen business, Open additional location, Register trade name or Change location. For a name or address change, write the name(s) to be cancelled or the old address.

3. 3

   Mark endorsements and fees

   In section 2, mark each registration you need and answer whether you want a separate tax return for each business. List additional trade names or other endorsements with their fees, then enter the processing fee that matches your purpose and the total amount due.

4. 4

   Select the ownership structure

   In section 3a, enter your FEIN. In 3b, choose one structure; for a sole proprietorship answer whether the spouse's name should appear on the license, and for an entity enter its name, state and year formed.

5. 5

   Enter dates, names and addresses

   In 3c enter the business open date as MM/DD/YY (estimate if unknown). In 3d and 3e give the primary business name, the city-limits answer, the mailing address and the physical location address, which cannot be a PO Box or PMB. In 3f add a phone number and email.

6. 6

   List all owners and spouses

   In the owner list, enter each owner's name (last, first, middle), title, Social Security number, date of birth, home address, % owned and contact details. Add spouse information where you answer Yes to married, and attach extra pages if needed.

7. 7

   Complete location and business details

   In section 4, answer the out-of-state question, whether you will hire independent contractors, your estimated gross annual income in Washington, the business activities and a detailed description of principal products or services.

8. 8

   Report purchases and affiliations

   In 4f to 4k, give details of any business bought, leased or acquired, unpaid-tax fixtures or equipment, affiliated entities with UBI numbers, any UBI to close after a structure change, other businesses you have owned, and your bank.

9. 9

   Fill in employment information

   In section 5, enter the first employment date, first wage date, number of employees (not owners) and the minors you will employ by age group with their duties. Choose one major operation code in 5d and describe worker activities and 3-month hours in 5e.

10. 10

    Choose reporting and coverage options

    In 5f to 5i, choose how to receive quarterly reports for multiple locations and answer the coverage questions for corporate officers, owners and excluded employment.

11. 11

    Sign the declaration

    In section 6, the sole proprietor or spouse, partner, corporate officer or LLC member/manager signs and dates. Add who prepared the application, a phone number and whether language assistance is wanted.

12. 12

    Review and download the PDF

    Check every section that applies to your purpose, including the fee total. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it as described under How to submit.

How to submit BLS 700 028

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a PO Box or PMB as the business physical location address; the form says not to use either there.
• Mailing the form without a check, or with a check not payable to Department of Revenue; the non-refundable processing fee must accompany the application.
• Entering a processing fee that does not match your purpose in section 1; the form sets the fee by whether you are opening or reopening, adding a location, adding a Non-Resident Business endorsement or filing for another purpose.
• Requesting employment accounts when you do not plan to employ anyone within the next 90 days; if accounts are set up, quarterly reports are required even with no hires.
• Leaving Social Security number, home phone number or percentage owned blank for sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers or LLC members of a business that will have employees; incomplete owner information delays the application.
• Skipping the spouse's information when a sole proprietor answers No to putting the spouse's name on the license; the spouse information is still required.
• Checking the under-age-14 box in section 5c before completing the documents in publication F700-118-000.
• Changing the business structure without re-registering trade names; trade names must be registered again under the new structure, and the old UBI is closed only if you ask for it in section 4i.
• Submitting a nonprofit corporation or LLP application without contacting the Secretary of State's office about additional filing requirements.