My Government
Maintaining your Business
After your business is registered, you will probably need to make regular registration filings, renew certain permits and licenses, or seek assistance of some sort.
Annual Registrations and Filings
Fictitious Name Registration
Renewal of the fictitious name registration for your business is required every five years and may be completed online for a fee of $7.00.
Corporations
The Business Services Division of the Secretary of State’s Office has online annual report filings for general and non-profit corporations.
Brokers/Advisors
The Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s office provides securities registration for brokers and advisors.
Sales/Use/Employer Withholding Tax
You are required to file a return even if you have no tax to report, unless you are registered as a “Seasonal Business” with the Department of Revenue. For more information, please contact the department at: businesstaxregister@dor.mo.gov. Department of Revenue Business Tax Forms has all of their reporting forms available online. You may also file your taxes online at Business Tax Electronic Filing.
Online License No Tax Due Information
Missouri cities, counties and state agencies must require a statement of no tax due from the Department of Revenue before issuing or renewing licenses.
Unemployment Insurance Tax
The Division of Employment Security mails Quarterly Contribution and Wage Reports to employers who have met the conditions for paying unemployment tax to cover their employees. This form may also be filed online. If you will not have employees during any quarter of the year, you will still need to file this report showing “No Payroll.”
Insurance/Financial Institutions/Professional Registration
The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration works to safeguard the public interest by ensuring safe and sound insurance and financial institutions and ethical services by licensed professionals.
Commercial Vehicles
If your business uses commercial vehicles, you’ll need information on commercial drivers, vehicle titling manual and motor carrier services.
Charitable Organizations
Many charitable organizations are required to file annual reports with the Attorney General’s Office and on request, disclose how much of the solicited money is spent on fundraising costs. Charities exempt from this provision include religious organizations and educational institutions.
Tax Issues and Concerns
Federal Employer Identification Number
As your business grows, you may need to have additional Federal Employer Identification Numbers. You can find out if you need an additional federal EIN at the Internal Revenue Service’s EIN page. When you’re ready to apply for the federal EIN, you can do it online at the IRS’ EIN Form page.
Tax Questions
The Department of Revenue offers a Business Tax Page that covers the registration, tax types and other related questions you might have. The Division of Employment Security also offers help with your questions about unemployment insurance.
Sales Tax Exemption Letters
The Department of Revenue issues Sales Tax Exemption Letters to religious, charitable, civic, social/fraternal, educational, Missouri political subdivisions and federal or Missouri state agencies. [see also Permits]
Environmental Compliance
Everyone is concerned with protecting our environment. In business, you have two concerns; keeping the environment healthy and complying with the various environmental regulations.
In Missouri, the Department of Natural Resources has several useful offerings to help you with environmental concerns:
- The Permit Assistant is a tool designed to help users determine what type of environmental permit they need and the forms to apply for these permits.
- The Department’s publication page helps you decide if you need to apply for a permit and how to do it.
- The Online Services (eServices) page provides a list of online services provided to customers of the Department of Natural Resources.
- The Small Business Assistance Program assists small businesses in their effort to comply with air regulations.
- The Community Assistance Office helps provide the most effective and efficient resources to the public.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a Small Business Gateway on their web site providing environmental information and contacts for small businesses.
Employee Information
Background Checks
If you are in an industry that requires background checks of employees, or if you have another valid reason to request background checks, you will need to submit your requests to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Record Checks. The request form is SHP-158K.
Hire Employees
When you’re ready to hire employees, the Missouri Career Centers and jobs.mo.gov provide services for businesses and job seekers.
In the state of Missouri, businesses are required to report each newly hired employee within 20 calendar days of hire. A new employee is considered any individual who is eligible for federal income tax withholding from wages and provides a service to the employer. This includes part-time and temporary employees. Learn more about reporting new employees.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
When you hire employees, you’ll want to make appropriate arrangements for Workers’ Compensation Insurance. For more information contact the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation or the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration.
Economic Development
The Department of Economic Development is Missouri’s lead agency for economic, community, workforce and tourism development. The Department’s Home Page has a directory of links to each of those agencies.
Labor and Workplace Issues
If you have questions related to unemployment insurance, workers compensation, workplace laws and safety, or discrimination, you’ll want to visit the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Employers page. This site includes links to free Required Posters and frequently asked questions.
Specialized Training
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education can help you with a variety of programs designed to provide Career Education for your employees. Customized Training may be of particular interest.
Insurance Industry
The Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration provides Industry Services for forms and filings and a page for information on Workers Compensation Insurance.
