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Think of Kansas as two desks. The Secretary of State registers the company. The Department of Revenue registers what the company sells and pays. Neither desk issues a catch all license in the pages we read, so the useful question is which taxes and permits apply to you.
What is the Kansas Business Tax Application?
The Department of Revenue's Form CR-16 is titled the Kansas Business Tax Application. Part 1 asks why you are applying: you started a new business, bought an existing one, or are adding a tax type to a business already registered. Part 2 says to check the box for each tax type or license requested, then points to the parts you must complete.
The tax types on the form include retailers' sales tax, retailers' compensating use tax, consumers' compensating use tax, withholding tax, transient guest tax, tire excise tax and vehicle rental excise tax. Corporate income tax and privilege tax are there too. Liquor enforcement tax, liquor drink tax, a dry cleaning surcharge, a nonresident contractor option and the Water Protection and Clean Drinking Water Fee round out the list. Each box has its own instruction line, such as "Complete Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 12", so you only fill in the parts that match what you tick.
Which licenses are on the same form?
Two stand out. A Cigarette Vending Machine Permit and a Retail Dealer's License appear in Part 2. For a retail cigarette seller, the form says to enclose a check or money order for $25 for each location. If you sell motor vehicle fuels at retail, the form says you must also hold a Kansas Motor Fuel Retailers License, applied for on form MF-53 for each retail location.
What do I need before I fill it in?
A federal EIN. Part 3 asks for it, and tells you not to enter a Social Security number in that box. See the EIN guide. The form also asks about ownership type, accounting method, your main taxable activity and a NAICS code, and whether you or a member ever held a Kansas tax registration number. If you add locations, you use form CR-17 for each extra one.
Is online filing required?
For returns, yes. The form's header note says businesses are required to file returns and reports electronically for a list of taxes that includes sales, compensating use and withholding. Plan to set up electronic filing right after you register.
Where do the Secretary of State's filings fit?
The Kansas Business Filing Center gives access to the Secretary of State's online services through KanAccess, including annual reports and the business entity database. An LLC's Articles of Organization cost $85 online or $90 on paper. The information report costs $90 online or $110 on paper, and the state sets it as April 15 of the odd or even year. Read the Kansas LLC page for the full path. The Secretary of State's registration page notes that regulatory agencies may use registration information to oversee industries with licensing requirements, such as insurance and banking.
How do I check a license?
We did not read a Kansas license lookup, so we name none. For a company, use the search covered on our Kansas business guide. For a tax account or trade license, ask the agency that issues it. The state tax ID lookup guide explains which numbers are public.
What does this page not cover?
City and county rules, professional boards, alcohol licenses and local sales tax rates are not covered, because we did not read those pages. Compare Missouri and Oklahoma. This is general information, not legal advice.