Plan for Seattle, WA
Seattle Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements
What a business in Seattle keeps doing after it opens: recurring filings, renewals and the events that trigger new obligations. Change the business details to fit yours.
Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.
Where Seattle, WA filings and renewals are tracked
City of SeattleHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
King CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below). Checked 2026-10-16.
Local items to renew or file
- Obtain Seattle business license tax certificate and file B&O tax · Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services (city)
- File King County business personal property return · King County Assessor (county)
- Get and renew the King County food establishment health permit · Seattle & King County Public Health (county)
File and renew with these Washington agencies
- Annual reports: Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities
- Tax returns and payments: Washington Department of Revenue
- Unemployment insurance filings: Washington Employment Security Department
Renewals, filing triggers and recurring deadlines in Seattle
16 items in your plan repeat on a schedule. Each one lists its authority and when it comes due.
Recurring filings and renewals
- File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C · every year · April 15 · IRS
- Deposit federal payroll taxes · every month · 15th day of the following month · IRS
- File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) · every quarter · April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31 · IRS
- File Form 940 (Federal Unemployment Tax) · every year · January 31 · IRS
- Issue Forms W-2 and file W-3 · every year · January 31 · IRS / SSA
- File Annual Report (Washington) · every year · Last day of the anniversary month · Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities
- Register for and file Washington entity-level taxes · every year · Washington Department of Revenue
- Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service) · every year · Washington Department of Revenue, Business Licensing Service
- File sales tax returns and remit tax (Washington) · every month · Monthly, quarterly or annually as assigned by the state · Washington Department of Revenue
- File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (Washington) · every quarter · Washington Employment Security Department
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums · every quarter · Washington Employment Security Department
- File the annual unclaimed property holder report (Washington) · every year · October 31 · Washington unclaimed property program
- Obtain food service establishment / health permit · every year · King County health department (Washington)
- City business license endorsement — Seattle, King County, Washington · every year · City via Business Licensing Service: Seattle / King County
- Obtain Seattle business license tax certificate and file B&O tax · every year · Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services
- File King County business personal property return · every year · April 30 · King County Assessor
Filings triggered by an event
- Complete Form I-9 for each new hire: applies when Business has employees
- Report new hires to the Washington new hire directory: applies when 3 employees in Washington
- Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 30 days (Washington): applies when Business operates in WA
Find an obligationShowing 29 of 29 obligations
Federal
8
State
16
County
2
City
3
Common questions about Seattle
The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Seattle:
- Contractor licensing: Washington Department of Labor & Industries (contractor registration)
- Real estate licensing: Washington Department of Licensing
- Alcohol licensing: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board
- Child care licensing: Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- Health facility licensing: Washington Department of Health
- Obtain Seattle business license tax certificate and file B&O tax (Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services, city)
- File King County business personal property return (King County Assessor, county)
- Get and renew the King County food establishment health permit (Seattle & King County Public Health, county)
With your current selections, the licenses and permits are: Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service); Washington business license with retail sales tax endorsement (Washington); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; City business license endorsement — Seattle, King County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Seattle. Change the industry above to see yours.
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov, esd.wa.gov
In your plan for Seattle, requirements come from four levels. Washington sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.
- Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
- State (16): Maintain a registered agent in Washington; File Annual Report (Washington); Register for and file Washington entity-level taxes; Washington state business license (Business Licensing Service)…
- County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File King County business personal property return
- City (3): City business license endorsement — Seattle, King County, Washington; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Seattle; Obtain Seattle business license tax certificate and file B&O tax
Sources: sos.wa.gov, dor.wa.gov
- Register for unemployment insurance with Washington Employment Security Department.
- Workers' compensation: Washington Department of Labor & Industries. Required when: 1 employee
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave and WA Cares premiums: applies from 1 employee.
- Your plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Washington new hire directory; Carry workers' compensation insurance (Washington); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Washington workplace notices.
Sources: esd.wa.gov, lni.wa.gov