Business Licenses and Permits

On December 20, 2011, Council members in West Valley City, Utah unanimously approved proposals to modify business license applications.

Companies will now have to state if they plan to use a status verification program to ensure that employees are legally allowed to work in the United States.

While there will be no penalty for refusing to answer the question, councilman Steve Buhler thinks that most people will elect to verify the status of their workers through the federal E-Verify system or other similar electronic programs.

The mayor of West Valley Mike Winder believes that the question itself will prompt more business owners to check the status of their workers

On December 17th, Washington County became the first county in Utah to put into effect an ordinance demanding businesses to register with the E-Verify system.

The electronic system is a free service that allows businesses to check the eligibility of new employees.

Companies are encouraged to use the E-Verify system, as employing illegal workers may lead to penalties.

Tags: business license, business licenses, Utah