Key Numbers Every Washington State Business Owner Should Know
- Summit Bookkeeping
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Disclaimer: This post is meant for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, business, or tax advice. Please consult with your accountant or bookkeeper for more information based on your specific situation.
Owning a business is about more than just what you sell. Behind the scenes, there are countless details to manage, like marketing, customer service, and keeping track of all those important account numbers and IDs that come with being a business owner and employer.
When registering your business with federal and state agencies, you’ll need these numbers for filing tax returns, paying premiums, opening a bank account, and more.
In this post, we’ll go over some of the most frequent numbers you’ll need to reference as a Washington state business owner.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number (FEIN) is a unique, nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Think of it as a Social Security Number for your business.
How to get an EIN:
Apply for an EIN on the IRS website for immediate access or apply by phone, fax, or mail.
If you are forming a legal entity, such as an LLC, partnership, or corporation, you should first register your entity with the Washington Secretary of State.
Uses of an EIN:
Open a business bank account.
Apply for business licenses or permits.
Hire employees and report payroll taxes.
File federal tax returns.
Where to find your EIN:
IRS notices you’ve received for your business
Past business tax returns
Call the IRS at (800) 829-4933.
Unified Business Identifier (UBI) Number
A Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number, also known as a tax registration number, business registration number, or business license number, is a unique, nine-digit number used across several Washington State agencies. It is essentially your EIN on a state level. UBI numbers often begin with 600, 601, or 602.
How to get a UBI:
LLCs, partnerships, and corporations will receive a UBI when filing formation documents with the Washington Secretary of State.
Sole proprietors will be issued a UBI number when applying for a business license with the Department of Revenue (DOR).
Uses of a UBI:
File Washington state business tax returns.
Apply for state and city licenses.
Register with state agencies such as the Employment Security Department (ESD) and Labor & Industries (L&I).
Where to find your UBI:
Formation documents from the Secretary of State
Via the Corporation Search tool on the Secretary of State website.
Employment Security Department (ES/SUI) Number
An Employment Security (ES) Reference Number, also known as a State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) number, is a 12-digit number issued by the Employment Security Department (ESD).
How to get an ES reference number:
Indicate that you are hiring employees on your business license with the DOR.
You will be automatically registered with the ESD and they will send you a letter with your ES reference number.
Uses of an ES reference number:
Filing and paying Washington state unemployment taxes.
Where to find your ES reference/SUI number:
Annual tax-rate notice
Via your SAW account
Call the ESD at (855) 829-9243
Workers’ Compensation (L&I) Account ID
A Workers' Compensation Account ID, also known as a L&I Account ID, is an 8-digit number issued by Labor & Industries.
How to get an L&I account ID:
Indicate that you are hiring employees on your business license with the DOR.
You will be automatically registered for Workers' Compensation through L&I and they will send you a letter with your account ID..
Uses of an L&I account ID:
Filing and paying workers’ compensation premiums.
Where to find your L&I account ID:
L&I notices and documents
Via the Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool on the L&I website.
Tips for Managing Business Numbers
Here’s a quick summary of the key numbers to keep track of:
Number | Issuing Agency | How to get it | Uses | Where to Find |
Employer Identification Number (EIN) | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Online, phone, fax, or mail | Open a bank account, apply for business licenses, make tax deposits, file tax returns | IRS notices, past tax returns, call the IRS at (800) 829-4933 |
Unified Business Identifier (UBI) | Secretary of State or Department of Revenue (DOR) | File formation documents or apply for a business license | File state tax returns, apply for business licenses, register with state agencies | Formation documents, Corporation Search tool on the Secretary of State website |
Employment Security (ES) Reference Number / SUI number | Employment Security Department (ESD) | Indicate employees on your business license with the DOR | File and pay unemployment taxes | Annual tax-rate notice, SAW account, call the ESD at (855) 829-9243 |
Workers’ Compensation (L&I) Account ID | Labor & Industries (L&I) | Indicate employees on your business license with the DOR | File and pay workers’ comp premiums |
These are just a few of the important numbers that Washington state business owners and employers need to keep track of. We recommend keeping them somewhere easy to access, like a spreadsheet, since you’ll likely need to reference them from time to time.
At Summit Bookkeeping, we make it easier to stay on top of payroll and tax reporting so you can focus on running your business. When you join as a new client, we’ll collect these numbers along with other key details to provide accurate bookkeeping and payroll services.
If you’d like to learn more or chat with our team, give us a call at (360) 756-5020.
