Washington Secretary of State filings, deadlines, and how to do them right.
Annual reports, business search, registered agent changes, reinstatement, dissolution, tax registration. Every Washington filing explained, plus the business environment, regulatory bodies, and a year-round compliance calendar. Verified against the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations + Charities Division as of June 2026.
Why founders choose Washington (and what to know first)
No state personal income tax. Tech industry capital (Seattle is HQ to Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Starbucks). Note: Washington B+O Tax applies to gross receipts even at low margins, so margin businesses need to plan for this.
Tax obligations at a glance
Tax obligations depend on entity type, where you operate, and where revenue is sourced. Consult a licensed CPA for entity-specific advice. File.Business connects you with vetted CPAs in Washington on request.
Other Washington agencies your business will touch
The Secretary of State handles formation and corporate filings. These agencies handle the rest of your Washington compliance.
B+O Tax, sales tax, withholding
Unemployment insurance, Paid Family + Medical Leave
Insurance licensing
Workers comp (state-run), wage and hour
Professional licensing
Alcohol and cannabis licensing
Year-round filings every Washington business should know
Recurring federal and state deadlines that affect Washington businesses. Our Compliance Calendar tracks these and 200+ others against your entity.
How to form an LLC in Washington: step by step
Each step explained with what Washington requires. File.Business handles all of this for $0 service fee plus the $200 online / $180 paper state fee.
Search the state business name database to confirm the name is distinguishable. Must include LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company.
State street address required (no P.O. Box). The agent must accept the appointment and be available during business hours.
Submit to the Secretary of State with the state filing fee. Online filing is the fastest channel.
Not filed with the state but legally important. Defines members, contributions, distributions, and manager rules.
IRS Form SS-4. Online if a member has an SSN; mail/fax if all members are non-US.
Most banks require: Articles, EIN letter, operating agreement, and beneficial-owner ID.
Department of Revenue for sales tax, withholding accounts if hiring employees.
Ready to file your Washington paperwork the easy way?
Five minutes per filing. State fee passed through at cost. Audit trail and deadline tracking included.
Disclosure. File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations + Charities Division or any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations + Charities Division. Information on this page is for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Filing fees and deadlines verified against the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations + Charities Division as of June 2026 and may change. For entity-specific guidance, consult a licensed Washington attorney or CPA.
Every Washington Secretary of State topic, in one place.
24 keyword-focused guides covering every filing, form, and compliance question for Washington businesses.