Washington State: Business Relief During COVID-19 Pandemic
Due to Governor Inslee’s recent proclamation banning gatherings of 50+ people and shutting down a variety of businesses in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Washington State Department of Revenue has shared measures they will take to provide relief to affected businesses.
Relief Available
These actions are in effect beginning February 29, 2020, and will last through the end of the state of emergency. This action addresses a broad range of taxes: business and occupation tax, real estate excise tax, and other taxes administered by the Department including tax deferrals for biotechnology and medical device manufacturing.
From the DOR website:
“What if I am unable to file and pay my monthly, quarterly or annual return?
Upon request, the Department will provide extensions for filing and paying tax returns (even if it is after the due date).
60 days for monthly filers
30 days for quarterly and annual filers
What if I need to, or have been, working with the Department on a collection related issue?
Revenue will delay issuing new compliance assessments for the next 30 days and reassess then. This delay includes tax warrants, notices of withhold and deliver, and revocations.
What if I have a payment plan with the Department?
Upon request, Revenue will work with taxpayers that are impacted by COVID-19 to adjust payment plan amounts or extend payment dates 30 to 60 days. If payment is extended, additional penalties and interest that would have normally accrued during the extension period will be waived.
What if I am scheduled for an audit or under audit right now?
The Department will delay auditing businesses that have gross income of less than $5 million in the past year, or are a type of business specifically identified in the Governor’s proclamation, for 60 days. Revenue will reevaluate after this time.
For audits in progress, Revenue staff will work with you to either issue the audit or provide an extension of up to 60 days based on your preference.
Revenue staff will be flexible in scheduling audits of businesses and encourage electronic records to support social distancing.
What should I do if I have a temporary business registration?
Businesses with a temporary registration that have had their event cancelled should notify the Department by replying to the original email they received when obtaining their temporary certificate. If you no longer have the original email, you may send a message to communications@dor.wa.gov to cancel your temporary registration.
What happens if I am late renewing my business license during this time period?
The Department will waive penalties for late renewals. Please note that penalties and interest accrued prior to February 29, 2020, will not be waived.
What if I'm late renewing my non-profit property tax exemption?
The Department will waive penalties for late non-profit applications and renewals for exempt property.
What if I have questions about paying my property taxes?
Please contact your local county treasurer.
Requesting Relief
Businesses can request the relief above by sending a secure email in their My DOR account or by calling Revenue’s customer service staff at 360-705-6705, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Temporary Office Closures
Beginning March 18, our public offices are temporarily closed to support the state’s efforts to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. All of the in-person services provided at DOR offices are available online at dor.wa.gov.
Online Filing and Call Center Assistance
All of our services are available remotely. My DOR is up and running and available 24/7 for online filing. Our call center agents are ready to offer their assistance at 360-705-6705, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”