Register or Reinstate a Business
Step 1: Legally Establish Your Business
Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships should contact the County Clerk where the business is located.
All other business structures should register with the Kentucky Secretary of State and apply for tax accounts at MyTaxes.ky.gov.
Step 2: Obtain Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS.
All businesses are encouraged to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) even if not required federally. While Sole Proprietorships and Disregarded Entities without employees may not need a FEIN for federal purposes, it helps differentiate businesses with similar names and can serve as an alternative to using a personal Social Security Number.
- Click
here to access the Internal Revenue Service webpage.
Step 3: Register for Tax Accounts.
The Kentucky Tax Registration Application allows new businesses or those starting new taxable activities to register for tax accounts.
Note: For assistance with registering your business through MyTaxes.ky.gov, contact Registration at (502) 564-3306.
Step 4: If necessary, complete the specialty applications below:
Step 5: Register with other State, County, and Local Governments as appropriate for your business.
Many cities and counties require a local business license and/or impose an occupational tax or other type of tax on individuals and firms conducting business within their jurisdiction.
To learn about your requirements in this area, begin by contacting the city/county government where your principal place of business in Kentucky will be located. You should also check with each city/county government where you intend to transact business or have a business presence. For example, if a construction firm intends to establish a principal office in county A, but plans to do work in county A and county B, the construction firm should begin by contacting county A regarding business registration requirements, and they should then contact county B to see if registration is required in that county.
Step 6: To Reinstate Business Tax Accounts or to Apply for Additional Accounts
- Change business or DBA name
- Update or add sales/use tax locations
- Update accounting period, ownership type, or responsible parties
- Update mailing address or phone number
- Cancel a tax account
Download the form
here or contact the
Data Quality Branch at
(502) 564-2694.
Note: Name changes must be filed first with the Kentucky Secretary of State. Afterward, submit the update via MyTaxes or form 10A104.