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Request a tax status letter

What is a tax status letter?

A tax status letter provides details regarding liabilities, credits, or other outstanding issues for a specific taxpayer. This letter is not a verification of correct reporting. It is a snap shot in time of a taxpayer’s account and includes:

  • Closed date or non-reporter status (if applicable)
  • Last tax return filed and paid
  • Outstanding tax returns
  • Unpaid balance dues, assessments, and tax warrants
  • Credits
  • Pending payments

All tax information provided in the letter is based on the date of the letter and can change due to future verification by the Department and/or future reporting by the taxpayer.

  • Tax status letters may be requested directly by a taxpayer or a third party authorized by the taxpayer.
  • Tax status letters cannot be issued for Vessel Tax, Leasehold Excise Tax, or Real Estate Excise Tax.
  • There is no charge for tax status letters.

How do I make a request?

Electronically
You can submit a request online. (You must be set-up to e-file to request this letter electronically.)

Note: You must be an “administrator” on an account to request a tax status letter or request a third party access code for the account.

  1. Click the Log in button.
  2. Enter your SAW user ID and password, and click the Log in button. If asked, complete the Multi-Factor Authentication challenge to verify your identity.
  3. On the My DOR Services page, click Get Started.
  4. If you have multiple accounts, you will need to select an account.
  5. On the Summary tab, click More Excise Tax Options.
  6. Under Tax Services, click Request a Tax Status Letter.
  7. Select Yes when asked Do you want to request a tax status letter? Click the Submit button.
  8. A Tax Status Request letter will be available to download or print as a .pdf. (Generally the letter is available right away, but may take up to 3 business days.) To print or download the Tax Status Request letter, click the More Options tab and View Letters.

How do I request a third party access code?

Taxpayers can create a third party access code to authorize the Department to share confidential tax information with any person given this code by the taxpayer. Anyone provided with the access code will have 30 days to use the code to request and receive a tax status letter for the taxpayer.

  1. Click the Log in button.
  2. Enter your SAW user ID and password, and click the Log in button. If asked, complete the Multi-Factor Authentication challenge to verify your identity.
  3. On the My DOR Services page, click Get Started.
  4. If you have multiple accounts, you will need to select an account.
  5. On the Summary tab, click More Excise Tax Options.
  6. Under Tax Services, click Request a Tax Status Letter.
  7. Select Yes when asked Do you want to request a third party code? Click the Submit button.
  8. A Tax Status Request letter will be available to download or print as a .pdf. A third party access code will be created that can be shared. The code will be valid for 30 days.

How do I use a third party access code?

To request a tax status letter, a third party with a valid access code should:

  1. Go to our Tax Status Letter for a Third Party page
  2. Enter the Account ID.
  3. Enter a valid third party access code and click Next.
  4. Click the View Tax Status Letter button to download or print the letter as a .pdf. (Generally the letter is available right away, but may take up to 3 business days.)


By paper
You can also complete a Request for Tax Status form. The form requires an authorizing signature from the taxpayer and must be mailed to the address or faxed to the number listed on the form.

Important: Requests submitted by paper take longer to complete. It may take up to 3 business days, plus any time needed to mail or fax the request.

Marijuana license applicants – additional information

Requesting a tax status letter
Under the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s (LCB’s) marijuana license application process, if an applicant meets the requirements to be given priority one or two in the application process, the applicant must show that they have maintained a state business license and have a history of paying all applicable state taxes and fees.

To show that taxes have been paid to the Department of Revenue, an applicant can follow the steps above and request a tax status letter. Applicants that do not qualify for priority one or two do not need to request a tax status letter. See LCB’s webpage on Priority Criteria to learn more about applicant priorities.

If you are a former employee of a collective garden, you can request that the collective garden provide you with a third party access code (discussed above) or a copy of a tax status letter in order for you to show LCB you were working for a collective garden that maintained a state business license with a history of paying all applicable state taxes and fees. If a collective garden refuses to provide you with a third party access code or tax status letter, you will need to contact LCB directly on this matter.

State business registration (license)
Marijuana license applicants can also use our business lookup to establish that their collective garden:

  • has maintained a state business registration (license) and
  • was in operation before January 1, 2013.

For information on applying for a marijuana license, including applicant priorities, visit LCB’s webpage on marijuana licensing. You may also contact LCB directly at 360-664-1600.