Washington Sales Tax

The current state sales tax rate in Washington (WA) is 6.5 percent. The overall tax rate varies by local municipality and can be as high as 10.4 percent. Other, local-level tax rates in Washington are relatively complex when compared to other states’ local-level tax rates. A sales tax may be imposed at the municipal, county, school, transit, and SPD (special purpose district) levels in Washington. Marketplace facilitators with no physical presence in Washington who made more than $100,000 in gross retail sales in the current or previous calendar year must collect Washington retail sales tax on taxable retail sales. The $100,000 barrier will be based on cumulative gross income in Washington, not retail sales, starting of January 1, 2020. The barrier applies to all Washington sales, including its own and third-party sales, conducted through the marketplace. Amazon’s headquarters are in Washington state, where it also has a number of fulfillment and customer support centers. Amazon and many sellers participating in Amazon’s Seller Central and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) programs are subject to sales tax because of this physical presence, or nexus.

Sales Tax Rates in Washington by County

In Washington, when do you have to charge sales tax?

If your business has a sales tax nexus in Washington, you must charge sales tax. In different states, the term “sales tax nexus” signifies different things. It could be having a physical site (e.g., a brick and mortar business) or having someone working for you in the state. It can also refer to having a ‘affiliate’ or ‘click through’ sales tax nexus in the case of ecommerce.

Check the Washington government’s sales tax website to see if you should be charging sales tax in your state.

In Washington, which items are exempt from sales tax?

Prescription medications, for example, are free from sales tax in Washington. There are also Washington sales tax exemptions that can be used if the seller or buyer meets specific requirements.

Check the Washington government’s tax website for a complete list of exemptions.

What is Washington known for?

Washington is known for:

• Beautiful Scenery
• Agriculture
• Birthplace of Starbucks
• Aerospace industry
• Home of Microsoft and Amazon.com

Washington Fun Facts

• The state of Washington was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington. It is the only state to be named after a president.
• Washington state is the largest producer of apples in the United States.
• Boeing’s Everett factory is the world’s largest building by volume, covering 4.3 million square feet and encompassing 472 million cubic feet of space.
• Harbor Island, located in the mouth of Seattle’s Duwamish Waterway, is the largest man-made island in the United States.
• The world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, was founded in Seattle, Washington, in 1971.
• 57 people perished in the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, the deadliest volcano eruption in the recorded history of the United States.
• Washington state flag is the only U.S. state flag with a field of green as well as the only state flag with the image of an American president.
• Seattle is home to the first revolving restaurant in the 48 contiguous United States, the SkyCity Restaurant on top of the Space Needle.
• Washington has more glaciers than any of the other 47 contiguous states.
• Washington is the only state with an official State Oyster: Ostrea lurida.
• In 2012, Washington (along with Colorado) became the first to legalize marijuana (weed) for recreational use.
• In 2007, Washington became the first state to ban texting while driving.

Tourist Attractions in Washington

• Chihuly Garden and Glass: Art museum in Seattle, Washington.
• Gum Wall: Brick wall covered in used chewing gum, in Seattle, Washington.
• Lake Chelan: Lake in Chelan County, Washington.
• Mount Baker: Active volcano in northwestern Washington.
• Mount Rainier National Park: National park near Seattle, Washington.
• Mount St. Helens: Active volcano located in Skamania County, Washington.
• Museum of Flight: Air and space museum in Seattle, Washington.
• North Cascades National Park: National park in northern Washington.
• Northwest Trek: Wildlife park in Eatonville, Washington.
• Olympic National Park: National park in Port Angeles, Washington.
• Pacific Science Center: Science museum in Seattle, Washington.
• Pike Place Market: Marketplace in Seattle, Washington.
• San Juan Islands: Archipelago in northwestern Washington.
• Seattle Aquarium: Aquarium in Seattle, Washington.
• Seattle Art Museum: Art museum in Seattle, Washington.
• Snoqualmie Falls: Waterfall on the Snoqualmie River in Snoqualmie, Washington.
• Space Needle: Tower in Seattle, Washington.
• Woodland Park Zoo: Zoo in Seattle, Washington.