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Certificate of Clean Hands: Washington, D.C. restaurant guide

Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR)

What it is

Proof that you don't owe the DC government more than $1,000 in taxes, fees, fines or penalties (OTR or DOES). Without it you can't get a license or permit.

When a restaurant needs it

Before applying for the Basic Business License, an ABC license and other DC licenses.

How to apply

Run a Clean Hands check in your MyTax.DC.gov account; you get a Certificate or a Notice of Noncompliance immediately.

Documents you’ll need

Fee
No fee stated by OTR
Processing time
Instant online (about 3 business days for non-DC residents who request it from OTR)
Renewal
Re-run as each new application needs it
Who files
Run by the taxpayer from their own MyTax account.

Good to know

The check looks back five years and includes unfiled returns, so file every return on time, even when you owe nothing.

Official source

OTR: Certificate of Clean Hands

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Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.