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Many local, state, and Federal agencies participated
in the development of this Web site. Their goal is to help you, the small
business owner, find the help you need to navigate the many
regulations governing small businesses. Over 170 entities license, tax, or regulate various
business activities in Idaho! This page contains information about only the major
agencies that affect 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 addresses, and
forms that 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 that contract with
them:
- Acupuncturists
- Architects
- Athletic Agents
- Athletic Commission
- Barbers
- Chiropractors
- Contractors
- Cosmetologists
- Counselors
- Denturists (not dentists)
- Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals
- Environmental Health Specialists
- Geologists
- Landscape Architects
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Professionals
- Morticians
- Naturopaths
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
- Psychologists
- Real Estate Appraisers
- Residential Care Facility Administrators
- Shorthand Reporters
- Social Workers
- Speech and Hearing Service Providers/Hearing Aid
Dealers
The Bureau's Web address
is https://secure.ibol.idaho.gov/IBOLPortal/
and
their phone number is 208-334-3233.
Not all licensing boards contract with the Bureau.
If your business activity requires a license but is not listed above, 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 Commerce
Note: On July 1, 2007 the department formerly
known as Idaho Commerce and Labor separated to form two
agencies, Idaho Department of Commerce and Idaho
Department of Labor.
The Department of Commerce is a
business advocacy agency that supports Idaho businesses and helps expand markets. The agency's services include community and economic
development programs, travel and
tourism 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.state.id.us/,
contains information about air, water, soil, and waste
programs; permits and regulations, and numerous helpful publications.
DEQ can also be reached by calling (208) 373-0502.
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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:
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
The Department's Web
address is http://finance.idaho.gov or
contact them
toll-free within Idaho at 1-888-346-3378
or (208) 332-8000.
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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.state.id.us.
The Department licenses insurance agents and third party insurance
producers, as well as certifying fire marshals and licensing fire
sprinkler installers, fireworks wholesalers, and 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, forestry, navigable water issues, and fire
management. For information, visit http://www.idl.idaho.gov.
Idaho Department of Labor
Note: On July 1, 2007 the department formerly known as Idaho
Commerce and Labor separated to form two agencies, Idaho Department of
Commerce and 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 and Job Service offices throughout the state. To find your
nearest office, click on the Job Service symbol to the right. 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 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/employees/employees.htm
and http://www.iic.idaho.gov/about_the_iic/divisions/rehab.htm.
 To
find an Idaho Industrial Commission regional
office near you, click on the box to the
right. The Commission's web site is located at http://www.iic.idaho.gov.
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Idaho
Rural Partnership
The Idaho Rural Partnership joins diverse public and private resources in innovative collaborations to strengthen communities and improve life in
rural Idaho. For information about the agency and its programs, call (208)334-3131 or visit the IRP Web site at http://irp.idaho.gov.
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Idaho
Secretary of State
 The Commercial Division of the Idaho Secretary of
State’s office oversees the following business activities:
- Business Entity Registration
The Secretary of State's office 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 of this Web site contains an explanation of
the different types of business entities that are recognized in Idaho
along with hot links to the forms needed to register each type.
- Assumed Business Names
The Secretary of State's office 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 that you are considering using for
your business. 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. To search for a
nationally registered trademark or to register your trademark at the
national level, visit the Web site of the U.S.
Patent and Trade Mark Office at http://www.uspto.gov.
Also visit the Links
page on this web site for more information about trademarks.
- Notaries
The Secretary of State's office registers Notaries (A.K.A. Notary Public).
Contact the office for information about fees, rules &
regulations, and other important facts for notaries or potential
notaries.
- Lobbyists
Professional lobbyists must register with the Secretary of State's
office and file regular reports, including financial reports.
- 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 prefect a security interest in the property of another person or
business, contact the Secretary of State's office.
The Secretary of State's Web site is located at
http://www.sos.idaho.gov
or contact them by phone at (208) 334-2300.
 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 Web site, http://www.tax.idaho.gov,
you will find electronic and Internet filing options; download
forms, publications or tax laws; find answers to commonly asked questions,
and more.
 Many
agency publications are located at http://www.tax.idaho.gov/publications.htm
and at http://www.tax.idaho.gov/tax_pros.htm.
Telephone assistance is available at 334-7660 in the Boise area or
(800)972-7660 in other areas of the state.
The Tax Commission
manages the state’s Unclaimed Property and makes every effort to
reunite the property with its rightful owners. Unclaimed
property consists of the contents of safe deposit boxes, stocks and bonds, uncashed refund
and payroll checks whose owners cannot be
found, utility deposits, traveler’s checks, tax refunds, and more.
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Idaho
Transportation Department The Idaho Transportation
Department licenses drivers, commercial vehicles, and
motorized boats and dealers. They issue commercial
driver's licenses, trip permits, overlegal permits, and
hazardous material endorsements. The agency's web sites
can be found at http://www.itd.idaho.gov/dmv/cvs/cv.htm
and http://trucking.idaho.gov/. The
agency 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 you with all your federal personal and business tax needs. It contains information on
obtaining tax forms
and publications, tax statistics, tax regulations, taxpayer help and
education, IRS news, electronic services, and how to contact the IRS and ask
questions via the Internet. A special section of the Web site is devoted to
tax practitioners and tax professionals. You may 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 that you 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.
To
learn more about the taxes that your small business
might 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.htm on this
site.
Information
about specific state and federal taxes that 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
a 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 at 1150 N. Curtis Rd., Suite 201, 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 or visit their Web site at http://www2.boisestate.edu/OSHConsult.
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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,
Hispanic 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, 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 see if similar licensing
requirements or regulations apply where you live. Some of the local agencies
that regulate business activities include:
- City Planning and Development Services - city planning and zoning (http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/PDS/)
- County Development Services - county planning and zoning (http://www.adaweb.net/departments/developmentservices)
- County Assessor - personal property taxes on your business property
and equipment (http://www.adaweb.net/departments/assessor/)
- County Solid Waste Management - waste and trash disposal, including old
computers, medical waste, and other potentially hazardous materials (http://www.adaweb.net/departments/solidwastemanagement/)
For information on managing small business solid waste, visit http://www.adaweb.net/departments/solidwastemanagement/ManageSmBusinessHHwaste.asp
- City Public Works Department - restaurant sewer and
grease traps - part of City Planning and Development (http://www.cityofboise.org/pds/)
- Central District Health Department (http://www.cdhd.idaho.gov)
- inspection of eating and drinking establishments, commercial
kitchens, day care
facilities, assisted living and nursing facilities, and more
- County Highway Department - signs, impact fees
for locations
fronting on a street, sidewalk cafes (http://www.achd.ada.id.us/)
- City Clerk’s Office - business licenses (http://www.cityofboise.org/city_clerk/businesslicensing)
To find a list of City Clerk's offices in Idaho,
click here: City Clerks
Not all communities have a local city government 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 for 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, assisted living centers,
nursing homes, public swimming pools, septic tank
installation,
and other business activities. 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 complete a background
check before you can receive your permits.
For general information on the requirements for
obtaining 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 that have 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
that 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.
They also need to obtain an Idaho sales tax permit and
an Idaho wine tax permit from the State Tax Commission
using application forms IBR-1 and BWA.
Wineries that sponsor special events at their
locations, 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.state.id.us/abc/index.html
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:
- a copy of your lease agreement or proof of
ownership of the property where the alcohol will be
served
- a copy of your city or county building occupancy permit
- a copy of your most recent facility health inspection
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