Federal Government Business Registration

Use the chart below to determine which state and federal agencies require registration of your Colorado business:

Business Registration
Internal Revenue Service & State of Colorado
Source: The Colorado Business Resource Guide

Business Structure	IRS Form SS-4	Colorado Secretary of State Form DR0592	Colorado Department of Revenue Form CR100
Colorado Sole Proprietorship Legal Structure & Registration Guide			•
Colorado Sole Proprietorship with Employees Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•		•
Colorado General Partnership Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•		•
Colorado Limited Partnership Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•
Colorado Corporation Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•
Colorado Limited Liability Company (LLC) Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•
Colorado Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•
Colorado Limited Partnership Association (LPA) Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•
Colorado Non-Profit Organization Legal Structure & Registration Guide	•	•

This table describes Colorado business registration requirements only. If you make a make product, sell something, or have employees, refer to this information:
Colorado Employer Responsibilities

Federal Government – Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Every business must be identified by either a Social Security number or a federal tax identification number, also known as a FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) or EIN (Employer Identification Number), Form SS-4. This number is the basis for all deposits and report filings.

Sole Proprietors generally use their Social Security number for filing. If you are a Colorado Sole Proprietorship with employees, you need to apply for a FEIN. Those forming businesses under structures such as General Partnership, Limited Partnership, Corporation, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Limited Partnership Association (LPA), and Non-Profit Organization use a FEIN.

IRS - General Information
1 (800) 829-1040
www.irs.gov

IRS - Online Employer ID Number (EIN)
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96696,00.html?portlet=1

Any entity that has registered the same or similar trade/business name higher than the state may have a claim that supersedes your own. To gather additional information at the federal level go to:

Federal Government – General Information/Trade Names & Trade Marks
http://www.uspto.gov/

Federal Government – Trade Names & Trade Marks Search
Go to “Where do I start?” Under “Searching Trade Marks”, click on TESS.
Select “New User Form Search (Basic).
http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

Colorado Trade Name & Trade Mark Information (Colorado Business Resource Guide)
http://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/FileDoc.do

Colorado Trade Name & Trade Mark Information (eHow.com)
http://www.ehow.com/how_2213639_register-business-name-colorado.html