Your certification status as a small business and/or DVBE is contingent upon meeting and maintaining certain requirements throughout your certification, which are detailed in your certification approval letter.  The Office of Small Business and DVBE Certification (OSDC) does not send out any reminder notices.  To maintain your small business and/or DVBE certification status, you must:

1. Meet certification eligibility requirements throughout your entire certification period.  If you are no longer eligible or if you are unsure about your existing eligibility, please contact the OSDC at (916) 375-4940.  (See eligibility information under Small Business Certification Benefits and Eligibility Requirements or DVBE Certification Benefits and Requirements.) 
2. Ensure your most current business and contact information is on file with the OSDC.  (See Reporting a Business or Certification Information Change and Online Certified Firm Profile.) 
3. If you are a certified Small Business, you must annually submit:
   • Applicant firm's and any affiliate firm's ENTIRE federal tax returns, with all schedules, forms, and support documents as filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Do not submit state tax forms.  Federal tax returns for the most recent calendar year, or a valid extension filed with the IRS, are due to the OSDS within 90 days of your firm's tax filing due date.
   • Employee "Quarterly Wage and Witholding Reports" (Form DE 6) covering the last four completed quarters at the time that you submit your tax returns to the OSDC.  If you have not yet filed the DE 6 for the most recent quarter, submit the oldest quarter instead.
4. If you are a certified DVBE business, you must annually submit:
   • Applicant firm's ENTIRE federal tax returns, with all schedules, forms, and support documents as filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Do not submit state tax forms.  Federal tax returns for the most recent calendar year, or a valid extension filed with the IRS, are due to the OSDS within 90 days of your firm's tax filing due date. 
   • DVBE partnerships and DVBE firms renting equipment to the state are additionally required to submit personal tax returns for each owner of the DVBE.

Need Help?  Contact Us

Email osdchelp@dgs.ca.gov or call (916) 375-4940.