A business may utilize an assumed business name in place of its legal name, also referred to as a DBA (doing business as). Anyone in Illinois who wants to use a name other than their legal name must apply for an assumed name with the Secretary of State of Illinois. This article will walk you through the process of requesting an assumed name in Illinois.
You must pick a name that is not being used by another business entity in Illinois before applying for an assumed name. Additionally, the name must adhere to state naming regulations, which stipulate that a name must be distinct from that of other corporate entities and cannot be deceptive or indicate governmental affiliation. On the website of the Illinois Secretary of State, you can look up names that are available.
Second step: register the name Once you’ve decided on a name, you must register it with the Secretary of State of Illinois. You can accomplish this by submitting a form for the Reservation of Name Application or the Registration of an Assumed Name Application. You can submit the form online or by mail, and it asks for details about your company entity, the name you want to use, and how long you want the registration to last.
Third step: publish the name You must publish the assumed name in a broad circulation newspaper in the county where your company is based after registering it. Within 15 days of registration, the name must be published, and you must show the Illinois Secretary of State proof of publishing.
Fourth step: renew the name In Illinois, assumed names are valid for five years. To continue using the name, you must update your assumed name registration before it expires. By submitting a renewal form to the Illinois Secretary of State, you can extend the registration. Can a DBA have more than one owner? A DBA may really have two or more owners, yes. However, the assumed name registration form must be signed and have each owner’s name mentioned.
On the website of the Illinois Secretary of State, you can look up available company names. To check if your name is already taken, you can run a trademark search.
On the website of the Illinois Secretary of State, company names can be searched. To find out if the name is already in use, you may also run a trademark search. Can two businesses share the same name?
No, two businesses in Illinois cannot share the same name. A name must be distinguished from the names of other corporate entities in accordance with state naming regulations.
Yes, the EIN (Employer Identification Number) and tax ID are interchangeable. The IRS issues each business a special nine-digit number for tax purposes.
Without a W-2 form, you can try asking your employer’s HR or accounting department for the employer identification number (EIN). The EIN should be stated on any tax forms or contracts that your employer may have supplied, so you may also look there. You can also try phoning the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, where you can authenticate your identification by giving them your personal information. They might be able to give you your employer’s EIN.