Request for Letter of Good Standing

A Statement of Good Standing is issued by the West Virginia Tax Division. If the Tax Division is unable to issue a letter of good standing a denial will be issued with detailed information concerning non-compliant issues such as tax liabilities or outstanding returns.

News for Good Standing

Currently, the Motor Carrier and International Fuel Tax decal renewals for the Department of Motor Vehicles are underway. Your business must be in good standing with the State Tax Division before the credentials may be issued or renewed. To obtain a Letter of Good Standing please see the detailed information below under “How do I request a Letter of Good Standing?” Your current credentials/decals will expire 12/31/2020.

What is a Letter of Good Standing?

A request for a Letter of Good Standing may be made by a business or individual to document they are considered to be in compliance with state tax laws by the West Virginia Tax Division.

Why would my business need a Letter of Good Standing?

Good standing letters are issued as a prerequisite to obtaining certain licensing or other business privileges.

A few examples would be:

  • Licensing Requirements. In order to obtain many types of licenses, it is necessary that the applicant be in good standing with the West Virginia Tax Division. Examples: ABCA, DMV, Contractors.
  • Banking. In order to obtain financing, many banks require proof of good standing with the Tax Division.
  • Secretary of State. A business is required to obtain a letter of good standing before dissolution or withdrawal from the State of West Virginia.
  • Bidding Requirement. A vendor is required to be in good standing in order to be able to bid and be awarded contracts by the State of West Virginia. Examples: Department of Highways, Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.

What happens if my business is not in good standing?

If, at the time of the request, the business or individual is considered not in good standing, a denial will be issued. This denial will have a detailed list of missing returns, unpaid balances and other non-compliant issues. After all issues are resolved, a letter of good standing may then be issued.

How long is my letter valid?

A letter of good standing expires 90-days after the issue date. If compliance status changes within the 90-days, the West Virginia Tax Division may rescind the letter of good standing.

How to Obtain a Letter of Good Standing from the West Virginia Tax Division

You can obtain a Letter of Good Standing from the West Virginia Tax Division in three ways:

Note: If authorizing a release of information to a third party, a paper form must be completed and notarized.

    • Through Your MyTaxes Account:
    • Log on to your MyTaxes account.
    • Navigate to the "More" section on the homepage.
    • Select "Letters" and then "Request Letter of Good Standing."
    • Complete the form and submit your request.
    • Once processed, you can print the Letter of Good Standing directly from your account the following business day.
    • This is the preferred method for the quickest turnaround time.
    • Online Request:
    • Visit MyTaxes.
    • Complete the online Request Letter of Good Standing form located under “Other Business Services” or “Other Individual Services” and submit your request.
    • The Letter of Good Standing will be mailed to you.
    • By Mail:
    • Download the GSR-01 form from the Tax Division website.
    • Complete the form and mail it to the address provided.
    • Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing.

Is there a fee for a Letter of Good Standing?

No. There is not a fee for a letter of good standing.

May I obtain a Letter of Good Standing if I have outstanding tax liabilities?

In most cases, a taxpayer is considered to be in good standing even with outstanding tax liabilities if they have a payment plan in place to address their outstanding liabilities and are not in default on the payment plan. However, this is not true for taxpayers who are obtaining letters of good standings to be used at the Department of Highways.

Taxpayers are not considered to be in good standing for purposes of obtaining a letter of good standing for obtaining a contract from the Department of Highways if they are in a payment plan agreement for outstanding liabilities. To obtain a letter of good standing to use for the Department of Highways, a taxpayer must have filed all returns and be current on all liabilities including interest and penalties.

A payment plan agreement may be set up with our Compliance Division once all outstanding returns have been filed and finalized liability has been established.

For more information about payment plans, or to request a payment plan online, please visit Payment Plans.

May a Letter of Good Standing be issued if there are missing tax returns?

No. All missing returns must be filed.

For assistance, please contact a Taxpayer Services Support Unit Representative at (304) 558-3333 or (800) 982-8297 and follow the prompts for Statement of Good Standing Requests.

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