One of the first steps you must do when opening a business in Washington, DC, is to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For tax purposes, your firm is identified by a special number called an EIN. It is referred to as a Federal Tax Identification Number at times as well. This post will cover how to apply for an EIN in DC and address some additional pertinent business inquiries.
You can submit an online application at the IRS website to obtain an EIN in DC. You may complete the online application quickly and easily, and after submitting it, you’ll get your EIN right away. You can also submit an application by mail or fax, but it could take up to four weeks to get a response. You must complete Form SS-4, which is available on the IRS website, in order to submit your application by mail or fax.
You must select a name for your company before you can begin to trade. This name may also be referred to as your trading name or business name. Your trading name is the name you use to promote and advertise your firm, whereas your business name is the official name of your corporation. If Smith Enterprises LLC is your official business name, for instance, your trade name could be “Smith’s Services.”
Your trading name and your formal business name can indeed be distinct. This can be helpful if you wish to operate many businesses under one legal organization or if you want to market your company under a different name. To make sure no other company is already using your trading name, you must register it with the relevant state or local government.
In DC, you are allowed to act as your own registered agent. To receive legal documents, you must have a physical address in Washington, DC. A PO box or virtual office address cannot be used as this address. If you’d want, you can pay a registered agent service a fee to serve as your agent.
You can search the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) corporate registration to find out who owns a firm there. This database includes information on all companies registered in DC, such as the identities of the company’s owners or officials and the registered agent. You can perform a search in the database for free online or in person by going to the DCRA office.
A company called Harbor Compliance offers organizations compliance solutions. They assist companies with a variety of compliance-related duties, including applying for an EIN, getting business licenses and permits, and adhering to state and federal requirements.
You can file a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect a trade name. As a result, you will have the sole right to use the name in commercial endeavors and stop others from using a similar name for a comparable good or service. To make sure that your suggested trade name is not currently being used by someone else, you can also search the USPTO’s database. Use the “TM” symbol next to your trade name to show that it is a trademark as well.