Set up a new License Express account for your business

Set up a new License Express account for your business

This guide is for new customers who have never used License Express (previously called Taxpayer Access Point, TAP), and only for those setting up an account for their businesses.

You must set up a License Express account before you can set up a Prorate and Fuel Tax (PRFT) account, such as a fuel tax, unlicensed refund, International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), or International Registration Plan (IRP) account.

Part 1: Gather the required information

To set up your account, you’ll need all the following information:

  • Your Unified Business ID number (UBI) for Washington
    • If you’re waiting to receive your UBI, you’ll need your receipt for the business licensing fees you paid to the Department of Revenue (DOR)
    • Some accounts, such as those for dyed diesel, don’t need a UBI
  • Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security number (SSN)—whichever you use when paying your federal taxes
    • If you don’t know your FEIN, contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

You’ll also need to tell us your business type, which may be any of the following:

  • Corporation
  • General partnership
  • Limited liability company (LLC)
  • Limited liability partnership
  • Limited partnership
  • Nonprofit corporation
  • Sole proprietorship If you don’t know your business type, contact the DOR or the Washington Office of the Secretary of State.

Additional requirements for appointing service agents

If you’re appointing a service agent, you’ll also need:

  • The service agent’s FEIN or SSN · A signed and notarized power of attorney assignment form, which allows the service agent to manage your account
  • The date from which the appointment is effective
  • The service agent’s contact information

Make sure your business information matches

You must have the exact same business information on all paperwork and on file with state and federal agencies. This includes:

  • Your business name on file with the DOR
  • Your business name and type on file with the Secretary of State, for all business types except sole proprietors
  • Your FEIN on file with the IRS

For example, if your registered business name on file with the DOR is “SW Towing, Inc.,” that exact name needs to be on file with the other agencies in the above list.

Part 2: Create a username and password for License Express

First, you must create a License Express account for yourself.

1. Go to the License Express login page and choose the “Join now!” button.

2. Choose the “License Express for business” option and choose the “Continue” button.

3. Enter your first and last name and choose the “Continue” button.

4. Enter the username you want to use.

5. Enter and confirm your email address. Choose the “Continue” button. We’ll send an email to that address with a link to activate your account.

Note: If necessary, you can set up other License Express accounts using the same email address in the future.

6. Enter and confirm the password you want to use and choose the “Register me” button. The page will show a confirmation message.

7. Open the link in the email we sent you. Check your junk or spam folder if you don’t see the email.

8. Enter the username and password you just created and choose the “Login” button.

Part 3: Set up MFA

After you log in, we’ll automatically redirect you to SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). We require this to help protect your identity and prevent fraud.

9. Under “Choose Method,” choose your email address. You’ll only be able to see part of the address.

10. You’ll get an email from SAW with a verification code. Enter the last 6 digits after the dash of that code and choose the “Submit” button.

11. Decide if you want SAW to remember the device you’re using. Don’t check the box if you’re using a computer that is public or that you share with anyone else. Choose the “Submit” button.

Part 4: Finish setting up your License Express account

At this point, you’ll be logged in to License Express for Partners. Now you’ll need to provide information for your account. License Express will automatically enter your name and email address.

12. Select your phone number type from the dropdown menu. Enter your phone number and your extension (if applicable). Choose the “Next” button.

13. Enter your address information: License Express will automatically select “USA” from the country dropdown menu.

  1. License Express will automatically select “USA” from the country dropdown menu.
  2. Enter your street address.
  3. Optional: Enter a second line. Do not add information like apartment or suite numbers here.
  4. Optional: Select a unit type, such as "Apartment,” from the dropdown menu.
  5. Optional: Enter your unit number.
  6. Enter your city.
  7. License Express will automatically select “WA-Washington” from the state dropdown menu. If necessary, select a different state from the dropdown menu.
  8. Enter your zip code.
  9. Choose the “Next” button.

14. Verify your address. We might suggest small changes, like abbreviating “avenue” to “AVE” or adding the ZIP+4 digits to your zip code:

  1. If our suggested address is correct, choose that option.
  2. If you want to use the address you entered on the previous screen, choose the “Use the address I entered” option.
  3. Choose the “Next” button.

15. Read the access agreement. Once you’ve read the terms, check the box next to “I agree to the terms of service above.” License Express will automatically fill in the date. Choose the “Next” button.

16. Check your information one more time. If you notice something incorrect, you can use the “Previous” button to make edits. Don’t use the “Back” button in your browser.

When all your information is correct, choose the “Submit” button.

17. The page will show a confirmation code and the time and date when you registered. Keep these for your records. We may ask for them if you ever need to contact us for help. Choose the “Continue” button.

Part 5: Set up a PRFT account for yourself

In this part of the process, you'll enter information for yourself. If you're appointing a service agent, you'll also enter their information.

18. Under the “Prorate and Fuel Tax Services” heading, choose “Register a new Prorate and Fuel Tax related customer.”

19. Choose the “No” option and choose the “Next” button.

20. You’ll see a screen with information confirming you’re about to start the correct process. These steps are only for people who have never used License Express or TAP and need to set up a new account. Choose the “Next” button.

21. In the dropdown menu under “I am registering as a…,” select whether you are a business, government, or individual. You can find more instructions for each of these options in the following sections.

Businesses

22. Select “Business” in the dropdown menu.

23. In the dropdown menu under “My company is registered as a…,” select how your business is registered with the Secretary of State.

24. Enter the legal name of your business. If you have other registered trade names, enter them under “DBA.” Choose the “Next” button and skip to step 30.

Governments

25. Select “Government” in the dropdown menu.

26. In the dropdown menu under “My company is registered as a…,” select which type of government agency you represent.

27. Enter the legal name of your government agency. If you represent a government division, such as a city's parks department, enter your division’s name under “DBA.” Choose the “Next” button and skip to step 30.

Individuals

28. Select “Individual” in the dropdown menu.

29. Choose whether you’ll complete multiple types of transactions with your account:

  1. If you'll only file for fuel tax refunds, choose the “Yes” option. Then enter the claimant’s name. If necessary, you can also enter an additional claimant. Choose the “Next” button and skip to step 30.
  2. If you’ll complete other transactions with your account, such as filing IFTA tax returns, choose the “No” option. Then enter your name. If you have any other registered trade names, enter them under “DBA.” Choose the “Next” button.

Continue your registration

30. Enter the FEIN and UBI for your business:

  1. If your business isn’t in Washington and doesn’t have a UBI, check the "My business is located outside the state” box. If you check this box, you won’t be able to enter a UBI.
    You need a UBI to do business related to IFTA or IRP.
  2. If you are waiting to get a UBI from the DOR, check the "My UBI is pending” box. If you check this box, you won’t be able to enter a UBI.
    You’ll also need to upload a copy of your receipt from the DOR on the next screen.
  3. Choose the “Next” button.

31. Enter your physical address:

  1. If you have a different mailing address, choose the “Yes” option and enter it in the box that appears.
  2. If your records are not at your physical address—for example, if someone else stores your records or you use a storage service—choose the “Yes” option. Enter the address where your records are.
  3. Choose the “Next” button.

32. Choose whether you want to receive paper or electronic communications from us. Choose the “Next” button.

33. Enter at least 1 contact for your business, government agency, or sole proprietorship. If you have a sole proprietorship, enter your own contact information:

  1. Choose “Add a Record.”
  2. In the dropdown menu under “Contact Type,” select who this contact is.
  3. Enter their first and last name.
  4. Optional: Add an email address for your contact.
  5. Enter at least 1 phone number for each contact. In the dropdown menu under “Country,” select the country for the contact’s phone number. License Express will automatically select “USA.”
  6. In the dropdown menu under “Phone Type,” select the contact’s phone number type.
  7. Enter the contact’s area code.
  8. Enter the contact’s phone number and extension (if applicable)
  9. If you want to add another contact, choose “Add a Record” and repeat steps 33.2 through 33.8.
  10. When you have entered all relevant contacts, choose the “Next” button.

34. License Express will ask if you’d like to register for a PRFT account:

  1. Choose the “Yes” button to continue your account setup.
  2. Choose the “No” button to finish registering without setting up a PRFT account.

Check your information one more time and choose the “Submit” button when everything is correct. Keep the confirmation code for your records in case you need to contact us for help.