How long permits take in Washington, DC
How long each agency takes, so you can plan the opening date.
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Internal Revenue ServiceUS federal
Owners with an SSN or ITIN apply online. A company whose responsible party has neither (most China-based owners) faxes or mails Form SS-4, or calls the IRS international line.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, faxed or mailed
- Takes
- Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 to 5 weeks. Phone: issued on the call.
DC tax registration
DC Office of Tax and RevenueWashington, DC
Register with the Office of Tax and Revenue on the FR-500. Every basic business license applicant must be registered and in good standing, and the license application checks the tax number for Clean Hands.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- The Office of Tax and Revenue may take up to 10 business days to process a new registration.
Corporate registration and basic business license
DC Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionWashington, DC
Register the company, then get the basic business license for the activity.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- DLCP doesn't publish how long a Basic Business License takes; you need a processed FR-500 tax registration and a Clean Hands check before you can apply.
Create/Update Importer Identity Form
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Sent to CBP (usually through your customs broker), or created in the ACE portal. Needed before your first entry as importer of record.
- Fee
- Free
- Filed
- Paper form, mailed
- Takes
- Up to 5 business days.
Customs Bond
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUS federal
Bought from a CBP-approved surety, usually through your customs broker, who files it electronically. A continuous bond covers a year of entries.
- Fee
- Varies
- Filed
- Filed on the agency's portal
- Takes
- At least 5 business days for review.
- Renews
- Continuous bonds renew yearly.
Food services business license
DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, with DC HealthWashington, DC
The basic business license for restaurants, delis, caterers and other food businesses. Apply online in BOSS with the Certificate of Occupancy, the DC Health food manager's certificate, the approved DC Health inspection report, tax registration and Clean Hands, and corporate registration if you have one; pick only the category the business was approved for.
- Fee
- $99
- Filed
- Filed online
- Takes
- DLCP doesn't publish a processing time; apply once DC Health has approved the inspection.
- Renews
- Every 2 or 4 years, as chosen.
Guides for each business in Washington, DC
Agency requirements change. Check each agency's page before you file.
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Get the plan for your business in Washington, DC
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders