How to Register for a Sales Tax Permit in Washington

Quick Answer: This post offers information on how to register for a sales tax permit in Washington. Registration is best completed online via the Washington State Department of Revenue website. More detailed information is included below.

Registration Fee: $50 Business License Application processing fee for a new business, plus endorsement and trade name fees where applicable.

Renewal Required?: Yes, $5 annually plus any endorsement fees. Late renewals are charged a penalty of half the endorsement fee, up to $150.

Turnaround Time: About 10 business days for online applications, plus 2-3 additional weeks if you need city or state endorsements. Mailed applications can take up to six weeks.

Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in Washington?

The first step is determining whether you need one at all. Washington doesn't issue a separate "sales tax permit." Instead, you (apply for a business license) through the Department of Revenue, and sales tax collection is set up as part of that registration.

You need to register if any of the following apply:

• You sell a product or provide a service that requires collecting sales tax

• Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more

• You do business under a name other than your full legal name

• You plan to hire employees within the next 90 days

• Your business needs city, county, or state endorsements

• Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the DOR

 

Out-of-state sellers: Remote sellers must register to report B&O tax and collect sales tax if they have physical presence in Washington or more than $100,000 in gross receipts sourced to Washington in the current or prior year. The threshold covers all Washington income, including retailing, wholesaling, and services, not just retail sales. See the DOR's remote seller guidance and its nexus thresholds page.

Registering also sets you up for Washington's Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, which is charged on gross receipts rather than income.

If you are not sure where you should get sales tax permits, we can help determine that for you with our Sales Tax Starter Kit Service.

Once you're sure you need a sales tax permit in Washington, you can proceed with registering.

Type of Sales Tax Permits Available in Washington

Washington doesn’t issue a separate sales tax permit. You register through the state’s business licensing system by applying for a business license. The Department of Revenue (DOR) issues a nine-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number and then mails a letter with your UBI/account ID and assigned filing frequency.

Sales tax is reported through excise tax. Washington’s DOR collects sales tax as part of the state’s excise taxes. You report and pay retail sales tax, along with business and occupation (B&O) tax, on the Combined Excise Tax Return. Excise tax returns must be filed and paid electronically through My DOR unless you’ve received a waiver.

Reseller permit: If you buy inventory to resell, the DOR issues a separate reseller permit that lets you make those purchases without paying sales tax. It isn’t needed to collect sales tax.

Sources: Washington DOR, Plan for taxes; Excise tax returns and addendums; My DOR: Get Started.

 

How Much Does a Sales Tax Permit in Washington Cost?

The business registration fee in the State of Washington is $19 plus a $5 fee if you are registering your business name.

Where to Register for a Washington Sales Tax Permit

Register online through the Washington Department of Revenue's (Business Licensing Wizard), which walks you through the endorsements you need and lets you select "Apply Now" to file through a secure My DOR account. You can also mail a completed (Business License Application) and any required forms to the address listed on the form, but mailed applications can take up to six weeks to process. If you're a remote seller, note that in the business activity description of your application.

If you're already feeling a little overwhelmed, remember we can handle the entire permit registration process for you with our Sales Tax Permit Registration Service.

 

Where to Go if You Need Help Registering for a Sales Tax Permit in Washington

If you are stuck or have questions, you can either contact the state of Washington directly or reach out to us and we can register for a sales tax permit on your behalf.

How to contact the Washington State Department of Revenue if you have questions: Call the Business Licensing Service at 360-705-6705, or email bls@dor.wa.gov.

How to contact TaxValet if you want someone to handle your permit registration for you: You can learn more about our sales tax permit registration service by clicking here.

 

Information Needed to Register for a Sales Tax Permit in Washington

• Legal business name and trade name (if any)
• Federal EIN (or SSN for sole proprietors)
• Business entity structure
• Name, address, and SSN of owners, partners, or officers
• Physical and mailing addresses
• Business activity details (products or services, expected sales volume, start date)
• Proof of Secretary of State filing, if you're a Washington corporation, partnership, LLC, or LLP

 

What Happens After You Apply for a Sales Tax Permit in Washington?

After you file your business license application, Washington issues your business license and a nine-digit Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number through the Business Licensing Service. The Department of Revenue also mails letters with your UBI/account ID and filing frequency, and each letter includes a Letter ID. You’ll need that Letter ID to link your accounts to your SecureAccess Washington login in My DOR so you can file and pay online. The Business Licensing Service sends a courtesy reminder about a month before your license expires. Check the DOR’s renewal page for your renewal interval and fee.

Sources: Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing and Renewals FAQs; My DOR: Get Started; Account ID and Letter ID locations.

Keep in mind, once active, you'll need to begin filing returns — our Done-for-You Sales Tax Service can handle that for you. If at any point you are stuck, contact us.