Tag: business attorney
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Behind on Paid Leave Premiums? Interest, Penalties, and a Grant You Could Lose
Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program is funded by a premium that nearly every Washington employer has to report and pay to the Employment Security Department (ESD) every quarter. It is easy to let a quarter slide—especially for a small business without a dedicated payroll department—but a past-due PFML balance is one of…
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Goodbye, Pet Rent: Everything You Need to Know About Seattle’s New Rental Junk Fee Ban
Finding an apartment in Seattle has long been an exercise in complex math. For years, prospective tenants have browsed rental listings and found a price that seemed to fit their budget, only to be hit with a slew of add-on fees at the lease signing. From monthly pet rent to package processing charges, these recurring…
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FinCEN Permanently Ends Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements for Millions of Small Business Owners
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a final rule that permanently removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act. The final rule became effective on August 14, 2026. FinCEN today also announced that it will delete previously reported information…
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Long-Term Rentals Are Not Subject to Washington’s B&O Tax
If you rent out residential or commercial real estate in Washington on a long-term basis, that rental income is not subject to the state’s business and occupation (B&O) tax—or to retail sales tax. The exemption is well established, but it is narrower than many owners assume: it turns on how long the tenant stays and…
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Foreign Money Judgments in Washington Still Need a Washington Hook
In Alterna Aircraft V B Ltd. v. SpiceJet Ltd., the Washington Supreme Court held that a creditor seeking recognition of a foreign-country money judgment must identify Washington property if there is no general or specific jurisdiction over the debtor here. What Happened Washington has adopted the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, which allows certain…
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Washington Manufacturers: Do Not Overlook the Sales/Use Tax Exemption for Machinery and Equipment
Washington manufacturers often focus on income, payroll, and B&O tax planning, but the sales/use tax treatment of machinery and equipment can be just as important when a business is expanding a production line, modernizing a plant, replacing critical components, or building out a research or testing function. The Washington Department of Revenue’s Manufacturers’ Sales and…
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Washington Expands Background Check Protections for Workers with Criminal Records
Washington’s Fair Chance Act has limited when employers can ask about criminal history (i.e., conduct background checks) since 2018. But 2025 amendments to the law go further. Enacted as EHB 1747, the changes do not replace the original law so much as expand it: the earlier statute focused mainly on when employers could seek criminal-record…
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Understanding Washington’s Tax Penalties and How the Voluntary Disclosure Program Can Help
Operating a business in Washington comes with many responsibilities, and staying on top of state tax obligations is one of the most critical. However, many business owners—especially those operating from out of state or just starting out—may unknowingly overlook certain tax requirements. Ignoring these obligations can lead to significant financial penalties. The good news? The…
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LLC vs. PLLC in Washington: A Guide for Professionals
If you are an architect, doctor, dentist, lawyer, or accountant looking to hang your shingle in Washington, you might hit a roadblock when you go to register your business. You select “Limited Liability Company” (LLC) on the form, only to find out you might actually be required to form a Professional Limited Liability Company, aka…
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New Sales Tax Obligations: Key Professions Impacted by Washington SB 5814
Effective October 1, 2025, Washington has implemented a major shift in its tax landscape through Senate Bill 5814. This legislation “modernizes” the tax code by reclassifying several traditionally exempt service sectors as “retail sales.” If you operate in any of the following fields, you are now required to register for a retail tax endorsement, collect…