Once you have decided to film in Washington State and have contacted the Washington State Film Office for assistance, your next step is to complete the Master Application.
Companies from out of state should write a cover letter indicating that they are from out of state and are conducting temporary filming activity only. Please make sure that you note both the first date and LAST date of your filming.
Master Application
When your Master Application is processed, you will receive a Master Business License and a UBI Number, which allows you to do business in Washington State, and accounts are established with the following:
1. Department Of Labor And Industries
- Underwriting Division - Workers' Compensation
- Employment Standards - Minor Work Permit
2. Employment Security Division - Unemployment Insurance
3. Department Of Revenue
The Master Application is available from the above department offices, the Washington State Film Office or on the Internet at www.dol.wa.gov/forms/700028.html. Electronic filing is also available on the Internet using Visa or Mastercard.
Downloads
Acrobat Reader required
Contact:
Department of Licensing, Master License Service
License Information Desk (Olympia)
Telephone: (360) 664-1400
Fax: (360) 570-4959
www.dol.wa.gov/forms/700028.html - Can file online using a MasterCard or Visa credit card.
When a Master Application is filed, the production company receives a UBI Number: 1) in four to six weeks if mailed to the Department Of Licensing in Olympia, or 2) the same day if taken in person to the Department Licensing at 405 Black Lake Blvd, Building 2, Olympia, WA or 3) generally the 24 to 48 hours with electronic filing on the Internet. The Master Business License is mailed approximately 7 to 14 days after the Master Application is processed. The Master Business License is required when a person or company is engaged in any type of business activity, using a business name, and/or hiring employees, this includes hiring minors. A UBI Number is the "Unified Business Identifier Number" and is the same as a Tax Identification Number or a Washington State Business Number.
An application for the Certificate Of Authority would need to be completed if a production company is a registered corporation from another state, and comes into the state of Washington to do business. This application is approved by the Secretary Of State's Office. After this approval, the next step is to complete the Master Application.
Important note - Please remember to put down the "end date" for your filming time in WA State. You can either state it in the application or attach a note to the application.
If the business license has no expiration date, the license is active until the business is closed with each Agency, by the owner(s), or the Agency involved.
If the business license does have an expiration date, it is either a profit corporation, registered with the Secretary Of State's Office, and/or has one or more of the renewable licenses from the Master License program (Minor Work Permits expire after 1 year.) Both the Corporation and any of the renewable licenses are to be renewed by the expiration date shown. If paid after the expiration date, delinquency fees will be added to the amount due. Renewal notices are sent 45 days prior to an expiration date. It is up to the owner of the business to pay by the expiration date shown whether they receive their notice or not. They can call Master License Service and ask what steps need to be taken to renew if a renewal was not received.
If a production company only buys goods and/or services in the state of Washington, they would not be required to register with the State Of Washington's Department Of Revenue. Once a change of your business activity occurs, you will need to contact the Department Of Revenue to check if any taxes are due at this time. The Department Of Revenue's toll free number is 1-800-647-7706 or 360-705-6717
