WASHINGTON, DC - Beginning in November 2000, the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) will change its business taxpayer registration policy by simplifying identification requirements. Currently, businesses must provide both a Business Tax Number and a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) when interacting with the Office of Tax and Revenue. As a result of improvements to the agency's processing systems, only the FEIN, an identifier issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and used by many other taxing jurisdictions, will now be required for business tax processing.

"As we improve our systems, we are able to make processes simpler and more efficient for the District's taxpayers," says Herbert Huff, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Tax and Revenue. "Now, instead of applying for and tracking two different identification numbers, business taxpayers will only be required to use the standard federal I.D."

In coordination with OTR, the District's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs will begin using the FEIN in October 2000 when issuing business permits under the new master business licensing system. Such standardization will not only improve the two agencies' service to the city's business community, it will simplify data exchanges with the IRS and other state and local taxing jurisdictions.

Businesses with questions about the new filing requirements or on how to obtain a FEIN should contact the Office of Tax and Revenue at 202-727-4TAX (4829).