The following definitions apply to this chapter.

(1) "Agency" means those agencies identified in 30-16-303, MCA, and other state agencies as approved by the Governor.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Revenue as defined in 30-16-103, MCA.

(3) "Master application" means the application as provided in the eStop business licenses guide provided by the department.

(1) The department will make available to all businesses a guide regarding the process for filing an application under the eStop program. This guide, as periodically updated by the department, may be obtained from the Department of Revenue web site at revenue.mt.gov; by a written request to P.O. Box 5805, Helena, Montana 59604-5805; or by calling the department's call center in Helena at (406) 444-6900.

(1) The department will provide a master application form to all license applicants who qualify under Title 30, chapter 16, MCA. This application form shall be completed and returned to the department for processing.

(2) The date the department processes a complete master application shall be the anniversary date for all licenses unless the agency notifies the department of a different date.

(3) Anniversary dates for pre-existing licenses administered under Title 30, chapter 16, MCA, shall be the date originally issued by the department.

(1) It will be the responsibility of the Board of Review, as established in 30-16-302, MCA, to provide policy direction to the department for the administration of the program and to establish program policy among the participating agencies.

(2) It will be the responsibility of the agency to enforce and administer the licenses according to the appropriate statutes of that agency. It is the responsibility of the agency to acquire missing documents or material necessary to process the master application and forward this material to the department.

(3) It will be the responsibility of the department to process complete master applications that contain all the necessary supporting documentation. Applications will be processed upon receipt but licenses will not be issued until all required documents have been forwarded to the department from the agency or the applicant.

(4) It will be the responsibility of the eStop business licenses program to simplify the process for businesses to apply and renew select business licenses administered by multiple state agencies. Agencies will work jointly to create a simple process, thereby creating efficiencies for both businesses and state agencies participating in the program.

(1) The department may accept electronic submission of certain documents through the licensing portal.

(2) An electronically submitted document is only complete if:

(a) all requested information is provided; and

(b) the submitter is the applicant, licensee, or an authorized representative of the applicant or licensee.

(3) By electronically submitting a document, the submitter declares, under the penalty of false swearing, that:

(a) the information submitted is true, correct, and complete; and

(b) the submitter is the applicant, licensee, or an authorized representative of the applicant or licensee.

(4) An electronically submitted document is subject to the same deadlines as a document submitted in paper form.