Tools for Opening a New Business (1)

Per the Virginia Department of Taxation:

Visit this website to learn about resources to help you start your business in Virginia, including:

• 10 steps to start your business. Starting a business involves planning, making key financial decisions, and completing a series of legal activities. Review this guide from the U.S. Small Business Administration to learn about each step.

• Virginia State Bar's Virginia Lawyer Referral Service. Making decisions for your new business may require an expert. Seek legal advice to ensure you will operate within the law.

• Steps to Starting a Business in Virginia. Doing business in Virginia requires many steps. Visit Business One Stop to learn more.

Per Virginia code.....businesses based in Virginia require a business license in the jurisdiction where the business is located. For Arlington County, please visit the Commissioner of Revenue's Business Tax Division's website for more information.

Per the Virginia Department of Taxation, you will need the following before you start your registration:

• Federal Employer Identification number (FEIN). Don’t have a FEIN? You can get one through the IRS website.
• Primary account user’s information: Name, email, and phone number.
• Responsible party’s information: Name, Social Security number, home mailing address, email address, and phone number. 
• Business information: Legal business name; primary business address, and mailing address.
• Entity type. If you’re not sure, the Small Business Administration is a good resource to see which business structure is most appropriate for your business.
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Look it up here.  
• The tax types you need to register for and the date you’ll begin business for the purposes of each tax type. 

An interactive, step-by-step video to help you register is available.  

When you complete your registration, you’ll receive your Virginia Tax account number for each tax type, your sales tax certificate (if you registered to collect retail sales or use tax), and documents to help you with your next steps (what returns you need to file, when to file, etc.). You also are automatically enrolled in a business online services account where you’ll be able to file and pay taxes, send us emails, and manage your Virginia Tax account in the future.  

For more information, click here.

When starting a new business in Virginia, it is recommended to register your business and trade name with the State Corporation Commission. 

Every individual, partnership, corporation, etc., who engages as a business retail dealer in Virginia must register with the Virginia Department of Taxation. They must also collect the retail sales tax, file reports and pay taxes either monthly or quarterly, depending upon the volume of business.  Click here for more information.

The state of Virginia and the federal government levy taxes on employees’ wages. The employer pays the state tax into a state fund that pays unemployment benefits. For more information, visit the Virginia Employment Commission.

Any employer who has three or more regular employees must furnish workers’ compensation insurance coverage at no cost to the employees. The employer may either purchase the insurance through a private insurance company or apply to the Workers’ Compensation Commission to be a self-insurer. For more information specific to contractors and subcontractors, read the Workers’ Compensation Information for Contractors and Subcontractors.

Per the Virginia Department of Taxation website:

A pass-through entity is any business that is recognized as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes and the owners of which report their distributive or pro rata shares of the entity's income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits on their own returns.

For more information, visit Pass-Through Entities | Virginia Tax.

The Arlington County Police Department(ACPD) requests new business owners to complete an Emergency Business Contacts form so they can contact you in the event of a fire, burglary or other problem at your business location after normal business hours. For more information, contact the ACPD at 703-228-4040.