5 Compliance Deadlines Washington Businesses Miss Every Year
June 28, 2026
The five deadlines that catch businesses off guard
1. Annual Report (Secretary of State)
Due in your formation anniversary month. The most commonly missed deadline — and the one that triggers dissolution if ignored long enough.
2. Business License Renewal (Department of Revenue)
Washington business licenses expire and must be renewed annually. Many business owners treat this as a one-time registration when it actually recurs every year on your registration anniversary.
3. Registered Agent Updates
If your registered agent moves, resigns, or you change service providers, you must file a Change of Registered Agent form within 30 days. Letting this lapse means the state may not be able to reach you for service of process.
4. Beneficial Ownership Information Report (FinCEN)
As of 2024, most small businesses must file a BOI report with the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Existing companies had a 2024 deadline; new companies must file within 90 days of formation.
5. UBI Number Reactivation
If your UBI number becomes inactive — which can happen after an administrative flag — reactivating it requires a separate filing. Some businesses discover this only when a contract or bank account requires a current UBI.
How to stay ahead
A compliance calendar that tracks all five — not just the annual report — is the difference between a clean record and a stack of corrective filings.