The Department of Revenue (DOR) recently released their 2020-2021 Local Business Licensing Partnership Plan and Progress Report. EHB 2005, passed in 2017, requires cities that have general business licenses to join a combined licensing system (either FileLocal or DOR’s Business Licensing Service).
The Local Business Licensing Partnership Plan details the Business Licensing Service (BLS) two-year plan to engage cities on implementing a combined licensing system. By the end of 2019, BLS provided local licensing services for 98 cities and towns and reduced the license renewal workload for cities. BLS plans to onboard 76 additional cities in Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.
The Local Business Licensing Progress Report details DOR’s efforts to partner with all cities that impose a general business license requirement, including:
- A list of cities that have and have not partnered with DOR;
- A list of cities that are scheduled to partner with DOR during the upcoming calendar year;
- A list of cities that have declined to partner with the department;
- An explanation of lessons learned and any process efficiencies incorporated by the department;
- Recommendations to further simplify the issuance and renewal of general business licenses by the DOR; and
- Any other information DOR considers relevant.