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How to Register Your Business in Washington, D.C.

Is your company hiring an employee in Washington, D.C., but based outside of the District of Columbia? Learn how to register your business in just a few simple steps.

Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC on the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background.

Plane Team

Published on July 15, 2022

Washington D.C. business registration

From Georgetown to Capitol Hill, Foggy Bottom to Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., is one of the most cherished and iconic cities in the United States. As the home of the federal government, it is famous for its monuments, museums, and sprawling government buildings. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the famous spring cherry blossoms, the eclectic food scene, and the abundant parks and public spaces. Chances are, if your next employee is a Washingtonian, they won’t want to leave. Fortunately, in this era of remote work, collaborating across state lines is easy.Bringing on a new employee can be exciting, but there’s often a lot to do as well. You want to onboard your new hire as quickly and smoothly as possible to ensure their success at your organization. But before you get started with onboarding, you’ll need to register your company with the District of Columbia.  

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Register your business in Washington, D.C., in two easy steps:

  1. First, you’ll need to register with the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue via MyTax DC.
  2. Next, you can register with the D.C. Department of Employment Services.
You should receive your account number from the Office of Tax and Revenue within two days of registering online. You’ll receive your account number from the Department of Employment Services immediately after completing your online registration.After you receive your account numbers, you’ll be able to register new employees, file wage reports, and submit unemployment taxes online. Unlike some states, Washington, D.C., does not have a minimum threshold of wages paid before you become liable for unemployment taxes.If you need additional support, the Department of Employment Services has a useful help and support page. MyTax DC also has a useful FAQ page. Note: If you're interested to know how hiring employees based in Washington, D.C. could impact your taxation liabilities, take a look at our post on remote work taxes.Interested in streamlining your registration process? With Pilot, you can complete tax registrations online, from one platform, in all 50 US states, plus Washington, D.C. Eliminate hours of manual effort from the process by using Pilot. Learn more about our state registrations feature.Would you like to expand your team outside of the US as well? Pilot manages international payroll, benefits, and compliance for US-based companies, in our secure, cloud-based platform. Our team of HR and payroll experts is happy to guide you through any questions ✨

Legal Disclaimer:

The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

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