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 • December 2024 •
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Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting (BOIR) - Filing Alert
Currently, a federal court order has suspended the requirement for companies to file BOI with FinCEN, and businesses will not face penalties for failing to do so while the order is in effect. However, this could change depending on future court actions. In the meantime, businesses can choose to voluntarily submit their BOI reports.
Alert: FinCEN has learned of fraudulent attempts to solicit information from individuals and entities who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act.
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Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is warning Washington business and non-profit owners of fraudulent communications that purports to be official notice from the Office of the Secretary of State’s (OSOS) Corporations and Charities Division or other state office.
- Visit the Corporations and Charities Division webpage to review examples of potentially confusing or misleading “Notices” & “Solicitations”.
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What Sales Tax Rate Do I Charge?
Watch our new video that explains how to determine what sales tax rate you should charge your customers.
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Seeking Worker Input on Job Quality & Results Will Be Shared With Employers
The Washington Workforce Board has launched a new Job Quality Survey to gather input from job seekers and workers across all industries. The survey focuses on what matters most to Washingtonians in their jobs -- pay, work-life balance, career growth, security and more.
This information will support a new statewide job quality strategy, designed to guide workforce development professionals, state agencies, policymakers, and employers in creating more quality jobs across the state.
By collecting data directly from workers, the Workforce Board aims to identify key areas for improvement, such as wages, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. Results will be shared with employers and other partners.
This collaborative effort aims to build a more resilient and inclusive labor market that benefits both workers and employers.
We appreciate your feedback!
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Child Support News for Washington State Employers
Report Your Seasonal Hires to DCS
As you gear up for the holiday season, you may be considering hiring extra workers for a month or two. Whether you’re hiring more cashiers for your retail store, lift operators for your ski resort, or someone to tie Christmas trees to car roofs, federal and state laws require you to report your seasonal workers to the Division of Child Support within 20 days of hire.
Reporting your seasonal workers is easy!
- For the employer information: Enter your business name, address and FEIN.
- For the employee information: Enter their name, address, social security number, date of birth and date of hire. You can find most of the required information on your employee’s W-4 form.
- To complete the process online in minutes, visit Secure Access Washington (SAW) and add the DCS Online service.
- For more information on how to report new hires, visit NewHire.wa.gov.
That’s all you need to do!
Washington matches new-hire reports against child support records to locate parents in order to collect child support payments. The information is also used to reduce benefits fraud in our state.
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Questions? Contact the DCS Employer Relations Team at 800-562-0479 or via email at DCS-ERT@dshs.wa.gov
Let DCS Know if You’re Paying End-of-Year Bonuses
Many companies reward their employees with an end-of-year bonus. It might be a holiday bonus, a referral bonus or a profit-sharing bonus. It could also be a commission check earned over the year.
Regardless of the form it takes, you must report any lump-sum bonuses over $500 to DCS if you are currently garnishing the employee’s wages for child support and the employee owes past-due child support.
Click below to learn more about lump-sum payments and how to report them.
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Get The Health Insurance You Need For 2025!
Washingtonians have until Jan. 15 to sign up for a health and dental plan on Washington Healthplanfinder for the 2025 plan year.
Monthly savings are available to lower an eligible customer’s cost of insurance. Visit wahealthplanfinder.org to learn more about available savings and find the right plan!
Don’t forget to share this information with your employees and ensure they have the coverage they need for 2025!
Need help? We have trusted resources in communities throughout the state available to help answer questions, understand tax credits, and sign up for coverage for no additional cost.
Questions on how you can support your employees sign up for health coverage? Contact smallbusiness@wahbexchange.org.
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Small Business Resources & Requirements Workshops
The Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) is a partnership of 29 state agencies working to improve access to regulatory information, education, and agency resources for business communities across the state of Washington.
The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) are free workshops providing you with essential information and resources to help start, run, and grow your business.
Starting a Business in Washington • Live Webinar
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The Small Business Guide
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The Small Business Guide is broken into six sections, based on your stage of business.
Whether you are starting your business, managing a new business, or expanding your business, you'll find valuable information and resources.
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The Small Business Guide Translated into Ukrainian
In June of 2024, the Washington State Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT), in partnership with the Tacoma Slavic Association, conducted business workshops tailored for Slavic refugees.
The goal of the workshops was to connect and empower over 100 attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to start and grow their businesses.The feedback regarding the event was overwhelmingly positive, with many requesting more information translated to Ukrainian language.
The SBLT acknowledges the significant impact that small businesses can have on communities and is dedicated to enhancing access to regulatory information, education, and agency resources for small businesses throughout Washington State. As a result, the guide outlining the steps for starting and operating a business in Washington has been translated and is now available in Ukrainian.
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The Small Business Guide is now available in the following languages:
English, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Samoan, Somali, and Tagalog, Ukrainian, and two volumes in Braille Ready Format Braille - Volume 1 and Braille - Volume 2.
The ORIA Information Center Team
We offer an experienced team familiar with owning a small business, working for regulatory agencies, and ready to connect you with reliable information and valuable resources.
- Let us do the research for you. Our service is free!
- Contact the IC Team at 800-917-0043 or email help@business.wa.gov or click the link below for live chat or text messaging.
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