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Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.

Register your business in Washington D.C. with essential tax and unemployment insurance guidelines.

District of Columbia New Business Registration Guide

State Tax Agencies

Types of Tax

  • State Withholding Income Tax
  • Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

District of Columbia Withholding Tax Registration

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue administers state income tax withholding. Employers must register for a withholding tax account through the MyTax.DC.gov portal.

Registration Steps

  1. Register for a Withholding Tax Account
      • Under Business Registration, click “Register a New Business - Form FR-500.”
      • Review the instructions and proceed with registration.
      • Mandatory fields are indicated with a red star (*).
      • Be sure to check “Withholding Wage Tax” when selecting applicable taxes.
      • Complete the remaining steps and keep a copy of your Account Registration Summary/confirmation page.
  1. Create a Username and Password
      • After completing your registration, return to MyTax.DC.gov.
      • Under Log In, click “New user? Sign-up for MyTax.DC.gov” to create your login credentials.
      • This will provide ongoing access to your business tax account.

Update Payroll

Once received, update your payroll account with your District of Columbia Withholding Tax Account Number. This is required for all DC OTR interactions.

Support

  • Phone: (202) 759-1946 or (202) 727-4829 (4TAX)

District of Columbia Unemployment Insurance (UI) and PFML Registration

Employers must also register with the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) to report wages and pay UI tax and PFML contributions.

Registration Steps

  1. Register for DOES Employer Self-Service Portal (ESSP)
      • Under Employer, click “DOES Employer Self-Service Portal.”
      • Select “Employer” as your role.
      • Under “Welcome to DOES Employer Self Service Portal,” click Register for a New Account.
      • Follow the registration wizard to set up a username, password, and security questions.
      • When prompted:
        • Confirm that you intend to register as an employer that pays wages for services performed in DC.
        • Confirm that you have paid someone for work performed in DC.
        • Indicate whether you are liable under FUTA in another state (select No if DC is your only unemployment state).
      • Complete all required fields. Use the Validate Address button any time you enter an address.

Update Payroll

Update your Payroll account with the following:

  • District of Columbia UI Employer Account Number
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave Registration Number

These numbers are required for all DC employment tax interactions.

Support

  • Phone: (202) 698-7550

This guide does not contain legal or tax advice. If legal or tax advice is required, an attorney, CPA or tax advisor should be consulted.

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Last updated on March 31, 2023

Washington West Virginia