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Over 170 entities license, tax, or regulate various
business activities in Idaho. This page contains information only about the major
agencies affecting businesses in Idaho.
To obtain a customized list of all the agencies you may need to contact for your specific business activity, visit the
Business
Wizard on this site. After you answer five questions about
your specific business activities, the interactive Wizard will create a list of agencies, phone numbers,
Web site links, and
forms you may need.
If you know of a business activity that is licensed or regulated or a regulating
agency that should be included on this site but is not, please let us know
by sending a message via the Email Us button at the
top of the page.
The following agencies are the primary ones that regulate or license
business activities in Idaho:
 B ureau
of Occupational Licenses
The Bureau serves as the initial contact point for applicants seeking
licensing in a variety of occupations. The Bureau administers
examinations, issues licenses, processes license renewals, and provides
investigative services to the following occupational licensing boards:
- Acupuncturists
- Architects
- Athletic Agents
- Athletic Commission
- Barbers and Schools
- Chiropractors
- Contractors
- Cosmetologists, Salons and Schools
- Counselors
- Denturists (not dentists)
- Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals
- Driver's Education Instructors
- Geologists
- Landscape Architects
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Professionals
- Midwives
- Morticians
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Occupational Therapists
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
- Psychologists
- Real Estate Appraisers
- Residential Care Facility Administrators
- Shorthand Reporters
- Social Workers
- Speech and Hearing Service Providers/Hearing Aid
Dealers/Speech-Language Pathologists
The Bureau's Web address
is https://secure.ibol.idaho.gov/IBOL/Home.aspx.
Not all licensing boards contract with the Bureau.
If your business activity requires a license but is not listed above, do
a search of the Business
Wizard or visit
http://www.accessidaho.org/business/licensing.html
to find the Web site of the state agency or
professional organization that regulates your business
activity.
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Idaho Department of
Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture oversees activities
involving:
- farming, including fish farming
- ranching
- livestock and other animals, including dairies and
feed lots
- food production, including field inspections
- produce dealers, including seed dealers
- farmers' markets
- nurseries and florists
- noxious weeds and insects
- pesticides and chemigration
- organic certification
- bee keeping
- agricultural exports
- weights, scales, and other measuring devices
- warehouses and other agricultural product storage
facilities
The Department's Web site is located at http://www.agri.idaho.gov/.
Idaho Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce is a
business advocacy agency whose mission is to support Idaho businesses and
communities and
help expand markets. The agency's services include community and economic
development programs, travel and
tourism promotion, film industry promotion and promotion of international trade opportunities.
For information, visit the agency's Web site at http://commerce.idaho.gov, or call (208) 334-2470.
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Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality
 The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is
responsible for implementing environmental
protection laws and programs for the state of Idaho. DEQ manages a broad
range of activities, including regulation of facilities that generate
pollution; monitoring the quality of Idaho's environment; cleaning up
sites where contamination has occurred; and providing education and
technical assistance to businesses, local and state government agencies,
and interested citizens.
The DEQ's Web site, located at http://www.deq.idaho.gov/,
contains information about air, water, soil, and waste
programs; permits and regulations, and numerous helpful publications.
To locate your nearest DEQ office, visit http://www.deq.idaho.gov/about/contact_us.cfm.
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Idaho Department of Finance
 The Department of
Finance
oversees a significant portion of the financial
services industry in Idaho through three operating bureaus: Securities,
Consumer Finance, and Financial Institutions. Each bureau delivers
services in both a regulatory capacity and as a consumer protection and
education advocate.
The Securities Bureau oversees:
-
Issuance and sale of
securities (stocks, bonds, notes, partnership and membership units,
etc.)
-
Stockbrokers,
broker-dealers, and investment advisors
-
Money transmitters
-
Continuing care and long-term care facilities for the
elderly or incapacitated
-
Endowed care cemeteries
The Consumer Finance Bureau
regulates:
-
Mortgage brokers and
lenders, loan originators, escrow agencies
-
Finance and consumer loan companies
-
Consumer credit and debt counselors
-
Collection agencies
-
Credit repair agencies
-
Payday loan companies
-
Title loan companies
-
Debt buyers
The Financial Institutions
Bureau provides oversight and supervision for:
-
State chartered banks,
credit unions, and savings banks
-
State domiciled trust
companies
-
Idaho business and
industrial development corporations
-
Independent trust companies
The Department's Web
address is http://finance.idaho.gov or
contact them at (208) 332-8000 or toll-free within Idaho at 1-888-346-3378.
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Idaho Department of Insurance
The Department of Insurance collects premium
taxes from insurance companies doing business in Idaho. The amount
of the tax varies by the type of insurance and other considerations.
For information and rates, contact the Department at
(208)334-4250, or visit their Web site at http://www.doi.idaho.gov.
The Department licenses the following:
- insurance agents
- title
insurance agencies
- third party insurance producers
- fire marshals
- fire
sprinkler installers
- fireworks wholesalers and importers
- bail bond agents
The department also investigates cases of suspected insurance fraud.
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Idaho
Department of Lands
The Department of Lands manages state lands and
activities that occur on them, including:
- mining
- grazing
- crop production
- timber sales and logging
- navigable water issues
- oil and gas exploration
- wind energy production
- fire
management
For information, visit
http://www.idl.idaho.gov.
Idaho Department of Labor
The Department of Labor is a business consulting organization with
the dual purposes of assisting
businesses in solving employment and training related challenges and helping
employees with career transitions. Services are provided at no
cost (costs are pre-paid through business Federal Unemployment Taxes)
through
Department of Labor offices located throughout the state. To find your
nearest office, visit http://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/idl/Home/LocalOfficeLinks/tabid/691/Default.aspx. The Department's Web
site is http://labor.idaho.gov.
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Idaho
Industrial Commission
 The Idaho Industrial Commission administers
Idaho's Workers’ Compensation Law. The Commission
works with employers to ensure that all employees working in Idaho are covered by workers’ compensation
insurance unless they are specifically exempt by state
law. For a description of exempt occupations, click
on the Workers' Compensation Exemptions
box to the right.
 The
Commission also monitors and audits workers’
compensation benefit claims and conducts judicial proceedings, including
mediation, on disputed claims.
Rehabilitation
services are available for workers injured on the job. For
information visit http://www.iic.idaho.gov/publications/rd_guide_for_employers.pdf
and http://www.iic.idaho.gov/publications/rd_benefits_injured_workers.pdf.
 To
find an Idaho Industrial Commission regional office near you, click on
the box to the right. The Commission's Web is http://www.iic.idaho.gov.
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Idaho
Secretary of State
 The
Idaho Secretary of
State’s office oversees the following business activities:
- Business Entity Registration - registers business
entities, such as Partnerships, Corporations, and Limited Liability
Companies, and any legal changes
the businesses may experience (change of ownership, change of name,
etc.). The Legal
Structure/DBAs page on this Web site contains an explanation of
the business entity types recognized in Idaho
along with hot links to the forms needed to register each type.
- Assumed Business Names - registers Assumed Business Names
(also called DBA or Doing Business
As). Information is available about other companies who may
be using, or have previously used, the ABN you are considering using. For detailed information, visit the Legal
Structure/DBAs page on this Web site.
- Trademarks - A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or
device, or any combination thereof, used by a person or business to
identify and distinguish services or goods, including a unique
product or service. Trademarks can be registered at the state,
national, and international levels. The Secretary of State registers
trademarks only in Idaho.
For more information about trademarks visit the
Hot Topics
page on this Web site.
- Notaries - registers Notaries (aka Notary Public).
Contact the office for information about fees, rules &
regulations, and other important facts for notaries or potential
notaries or visit their Web site at http://www.sos.idaho.gov/notary/npindex.htm.
- Lobbyists - Professional lobbyists must register with the Secretary of State's
office and file regular reports, including financial reports. For
information visit http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/lobbyist/lobinfo.htm.
- UCC/Liens - UCC, or
the Uniform Commercial Code, enables a person or business to perfect a security
interest (secure a financial interest) in a business, equipment,
property, or other items owned by another party. This service is used when
money is owed to the party perfecting the security interest. For
more information, see the explanation in
the Glossary on this Web site.
You may search for business lien filings in Idaho at https://www.accessidaho.org/secure/sos/liens/search.html.
To begin the process to prefect a security interest in the property of
a person or
business, visit http://www.sos.idaho.gov/ucc/uccindex.htm.
The Secretary of State's Web site is
found at
http://www.sos.idaho.gov
or contact them by phone at (208) 334-2300.
Idaho
State Police
The Idaho State Police oversee numerous business activities, including:
ISP
also oversees the Idaho Post Academy, the training
center for police and corrections officers, probation
and parole officers, and other law enforcement personnel. The POST Web
site is located at http://www.idaho-post.org/.
Idaho State Tax Commission
The Idaho State Tax Commission administers the
state's tax laws and provides tax information and
education to the public.
On the Commission's website,
tax.idaho.gov,
you’ll find online filing options, downloadable forms
and publications, answers to commonly asked questions,
and more.
Telephone help is available at (208) 334-7660 in the
Boise area or (800) 972-7660 toll free. The Boise
office also offers daily walk-in service for taxpayers.
Tax Commission offices in Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston,
Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls offer limited
customer service, including:
·
A phone to call Taxpayer
Services in Boise toll free
·
A drop box to leave
payments, tax returns, and correspondence
·
Meetings with staff by
appointment
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Idaho
Transportation Department The Idaho Transportation
Department licenses drivers, motor vehicles, commercial vehicles,
motorcycles, recreational vehicles, motorized boats, and
auto and boat dealers. ITD issues commercial
driver's licenses, trip permits, overlegal permits, and
hazardous material endorsements. The agency's Web sites
are found at http://www.itd.idaho.gov/dmv/cvs/cv.htm
and http://trucking.idaho.gov/. For
a list of offices issuing driver's licenses, visit http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/driverservices/Sheriff.htm.
For a list of offices that license vehicles, visit http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/vehicleservices/assessor.htm. The
Division of Aeronautics registers airplanes, pilots, and
airplane dealers and regulates activities occurring at airports in Idaho.
For information, visit http://itd.idaho.gov/aero/Airmen-Aircraft/Airmen-Aircraft%20Reg.htm. ITD
also regulates the placement of permanent signs
along highways. To apply to place a sign along a highway
use the form found at http://itd.idaho.gov/row/new/docs/ITD0275%20TODS%20APPLICATION.pdf
Internal
Revenue Service
 The Internal Revenue Service's Web site, http://www.irs.gov,
is an easy-to-use source to help with all your federal personal and business tax needs. It contains information on
tax forms
and publications, tax statistics, tax regulations, taxpayer help and
education, IRS news, electronic services, and more. A special section of the Web site is devoted to
tax practitioners and tax professionals. Contact the IRS
through their Web site or by calling toll-free 1-800-829-1040 for personal
tax questions or contact the Business and Specialty Tax Help Line at
1-800-829-4933.
The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers (EIN), also called
tax
identification numbers or tax ID numbers. To obtain an EIN, visit http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98350,00.html.
You will need an EIN if you have employees, make retail sales, or do
business with corporations and government agencies. Your bank may also
require you to obtain an EIN. If you offer employee health insurance,
you will need an EIN as your National Standard Employer
Identification number for electronic claims reporting.
For more on EINs visit the
Glossary section of this site.
To learn more about the taxes your small business may be required to pay and to locate forms and
publications, visit the small business section of the
IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
or visit IRS
One-Stop Resource Guide for Small Businesses
on this
site.
Information
about specific state and federal taxes your
business may be required to pay can be found on the Taxes
page of this Web site.
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Occupational
Safety & Health Administration
 OSHA is
the division of the U.S. Department of Labor
that regulates working conditions and
produces the "OSHA Handbook for Small Businesses." For
information, visit their Web site at http://www.osha.gov.
The Idaho office of
OSHA is located in Boise and may be reached by calling (208)
321-2960 or toll free (in Idaho) 800-482-1370.
The Idaho Occupational
Safety & Health Consultation Program, located at Boise State
University, assists private small
businesses to achieve compliance with OSHA safety and health
regulations. Safety and industrial hygiene consultants will assess a
business and develop a confidential written report of recommendations to
help the business comply with OSHA requirements. No citations are issued or penalties
assessed. The business owner's only obligation is to correct all serious
hazards within a reasonable time. Services
are free.
To schedule a consultation,
contact the office at (208) 426-3283, send an e-mail to consultation@boisestate.edu,
or visit their Web site at http://www.boisestate.edu/oshcon/.
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U.S. Department of Labor
 The U.S. Department of Labor regulates working conditions,
wages, and payment practices. These activities are governed by the Wage
and Hour Division, which publishes the "Handy Reference Guide to the
Fair Labor Standards Act."
For information on
U.S. DOL programs, visit their Web site at http://www.dol.gov.
If your business employs teen-agers, visit http://www.youthrules.dol.gov.
The U.S. DOL offers programs to train and support homeless
individuals and agencies working with the homeless to
improve their employability. For information,
visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-homeless.htm.
The DOL also offers programs for women, veterans,
Spanish speaking workers, the disabled, and others. For
information, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/audience/index.htm.
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Bureau
of Citizenship and Immigration Services
Federal law requires that all parties working in a business, including the
owners, must have a
legal right to work in the United States. For information that may apply to your
business and requirements you will need to meet, visit the Employer Issues
section of this Web site and choose "Legal Right to
Work in the U.S."
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Local
Agencies
Numerous city and county agencies may license or regulate business
activities in your area.
Licensing requirements vary depending on the city or county in which your
business is located and whether the business is located within the city limits or
in the county. Since Ada County and Boise City have some of the most
comprehensive licensing requirements in the state, links to their agency
Web sites are listed below. By visiting the sites, you will learn what
activities are regulated in Boise and Ada County; then you can contact
your local city or county agencies to determine whether similar licensing
requirements or regulations apply where your business is located. Some of the local agencies
that regulate business activities include:
- City Planning and Development Services - city planning, zoning,
business signs, city building permits, renovation permits, historic
preservation and design reviews - http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/PDS/
- County Development Services - county planning, zoning, land use, county
building permits, historic preservation - http://www.adaweb.net/DevelopmentServices.aspx
- County Assessor - personal property taxes on your business property, equipment
and real estate, motor vehicle licenses, land records - http://www.adaweb.net/Assessor.aspx
- County Solid Waste Management - waste and trash disposal, including old
computers, medical waste, paint, chemicals, and other potentially hazardous materials
- http://www.adaweb.net/SolidWasteManagement.aspx
For information on managing small business hazardous waste, visit http://www.adaweb.net/SolidWasteManagement/HazardousWaste/ManageSmBusinessHHWaste.aspx
- City Public Works Department - restaurant sewer and
grease traps http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/Public_Works/PDF/FOGBMPbrochure.pdf
- County Highway Department - signs, impact fees
for locations with street frontage, sidewalk cafes - http://www.achd.ada.id.us/
- City Clerk’s Office - business licenses, occupancy permits, eating
and drinking permits, special events permits (parades, festivals,
etc.), vendor permits, and more - http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/City_Clerk/BusinessLicensing/?nav=homeBbl
To find a list of City Clerk's offices in all
incorporated cities in Idaho,
click here: City Clerks.
Very small communities may not have city government
offices if they
are not incorporated as a city. If you cannot find
information for your community, look for information
for your county.
To find the Web site for your county, visit the Web
site of the Idaho Association of
Counties at http://www.idcounties.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={DA621DF6-70BE-4437-BE02-B1431FDA93CA}
or call the Association at (208)
345-9126.
Regional Health
Departments
Idaho's seven regional health departments inspect and
license:
- eating and drinking establishments
- commercial
kitchens
- day care centers
- public swimming pools
- septic tank
installation
- wastewater treatment facilities
- other business
activities that may affect the public health
To find the location
of your nearest health department
click
here.
Alcoholic
Beverage Licensing
If you plan to sell or serve alcoholic beverages,
including beer and wine, you will need to contact the following agencies
to obtain the necessary licenses. You will need to undergo a background
check and be fingerprinted before you can receive your permits. See
http://www.isp.idaho.gov/identification/index.html
for information.
For general information on the requirements to obtain an alcohol or beer and wine license and the
order in which you must obtain the permits, visit the Web
site of the Boise
City Clerk's office. Also check with your local city
or county to find out if they have other requirements.
To sell or serve liquor by the drink,
contact the following agencies:
If you plan to sell alcohol by the bottle, you
will need to contact the Idaho
State Liquor Dispensary in addition to the above agencies.
Only businesses having a
permanent physical location where the majority of their retail business
occurs can apply for an alcohol or beer and wine license. Businesses cannot be located
within 300 feet of a school or 150 feet of a church or hospital. Caterers
who do not serve alcohol at their primary business location cannot obtain a
license to serve it at off-site events.
Breweries, wineries, importers, exporters, distributors,
wholesalers, and those who warehouse alcoholic beverages, including
beer and wine, must be licensed both Federally and locally. For
information and to apply for a license, contact the U.S. Department of the Treasury,
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Labeling and advertising
must also be approved by this agency.
Wine direct shippers: Businesses that ship
wine directly to consumers need to obtain a wine license
and a direct shippers permit from the ID
Department of Law Enforcement, Alcohol Beverage Control,
http://www.isp.idaho.gov/abc/documents/IdahoWineDirectShippingRequirements.pdf.
An Idaho sales tax permit and
an Idaho wine tax permit must also be obtained from the State Tax Commission
using application forms IBR-1 and BWA.
Off-site delivery of wine or beer: Retailers
making deliveries of wine and/or beer must comply with
the requirements found at
http://www.isp.idaho.gov/abc/documents/LicenseeDeliveryRequirements.pdf.
Winery-sponsored events: Wineries that sponsor special events at their
facility, such as concerts, must obtain a special event
permit from the Alcohol Beverage Control Division of the
Idaho Department of Law Enforcement. Information can be
found at
http://www.isp.idaho.gov/abc/index.html.
Charitable events: To obtain a temporary permit to serve beer or wine at
a charitable event lasting 3 days or less contact the
ID
Department of Law Enforcement, Alcohol Beverage Control
Division. The applicant must not hold a current beer
or wine permit and all proceeds from sales must be
donated to the charity.
When applying for an alcoholic beverage license you will need to provide the following
documents:
- fingerprint cards
- fees to cover the cost of a criminal background
check for each person listed
on the application
- a copy of the lease agreement or proof of
ownership of the property where the alcohol will be
served and a detailed description of the premises
- a copy of your city or county building occupancy permit
- a copy of your most recent facility health inspection
- a copy of your business's entity registration
documents submitted to the Secretary of State
(articles of incorporation, partnership agreement,
etc.)
- proof of current zoning approval from your city or county
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A detailed statement of the assets and
liabilities of the applicant
For more information, visit
http://www.isp.idaho.gov/abc/documents/NewLicenseeNotice_000.pdf
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