Seattle's sales tax rate and what it covers

Seattle's combined sales tax is 10.25 percent as of 2024. This rate combines the Washington State sales tax of 6.5 percent, King County's rate of 0.5 percent, and Seattle's local tax of 3.25 percent. The tax applies to most goods you buy in the city, though some items are exempt.

Food you prepare at home — groceries like milk, bread, and vegetables — is not taxed. Prepared food, restaurant meals, and takeout are taxed at the full rate. Prescription medications are exempt, but over-the-counter drugs and vitamins are taxed. Clothing and shoes have no sales tax in Washington State, which is unusual among states and saves Seattle shoppers money on apparel.

Services are generally not taxed in Washington, so a haircut, car repair, or dental cleaning carries no sales tax. However, some services bundled with goods — like installation of a product you buy — may be taxed depending on how the transaction is structured.

Key Takeaways

  • Seattle's total sales tax is 10.25 percent, made up of state, county, and city portions.
  • Groceries and prescription medications are exempt, but restaurant meals and over-the-counter drugs are taxed.
  • Clothing and shoes have no sales tax in Washington State, unlike most other states.
  • The tax rate is the same whether you shop in downtown Seattle or the suburbs, as long as you are within city limits.

How Seattle's three-part tax breaks down

Washington State charges 6.5 percent sales tax on all taxable purchases statewide. This is the foundation rate, and it funds state services. King County adds 0.5 percent on top of that, which goes to county services and programs. Seattle then adds its own 3.25 percent local tax, which the city uses for its budget.

The three rates stack on top of each other, which is why the total reaches 10.25 percent. If you buy something in a different Washington city outside Seattle — say, Tacoma or Bellevue — the state and county portions stay the same, but the local city tax changes. Tacoma's rate is 10.35 percent, for example, while Bellevue's is 10.025 percent.

Seattle's local portion, the 3.25 percent, was increased over time through voter-approved measures. The city uses this revenue for transit, parks, libraries, and other municipal services. When you see the 10.25 percent rate quoted, all three layers are already included in that single number.

What items are taxed and what are not

Most physical goods are taxed at the full 10.25 percent rate. Clothing and footwear are the major exception — Washington State exempts all apparel from sales tax, so you pay nothing extra on shirts, pants, shoes, or coats. This applies even if you buy them in Seattle.

Food is divided into two categories. Unprepared food — groceries you cook yourself — is not taxed. This includes raw meat, vegetables, bread, milk, cereal, and canned goods. Prepared food is taxed. This means a sandwich from a deli counter, a restaurant meal, coffee from a café, or food from a food truck all carry the full 10.25 percent tax. The distinction is whether the food is ready to eat.

Medications split the same way. Prescription drugs dispensed by a pharmacist are exempt. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, cold medicine, or allergy pills are taxed. Vitamins and supplements are also taxed, even though they are sold in pharmacies.

Services are not taxed. A haircut, plumbing repair, dental work, or car wash has no sales tax. However, if a service includes a physical product — like a plumber who installs a new faucet — the product portion may be taxed separately depending on how the invoice is written.

Digital goods and online purchases in Seattle

Digital goods — software, e-books, music downloads, and streaming subscriptions — are taxed in Washington State. If you buy an e-book or read music in Seattle, you pay the 10.25 percent tax. This applies whether you buy from a Seattle-based company or an out-of-state one.

Online purchases from out-of-state retailers are subject to Washington sales tax if the retailer has a physical presence in the state or meets certain sales thresholds. Most large retailers like Amazon collect and remit Washington sales tax on orders shipped to Seattle addresses. Smaller retailers may not, though Washington law requires you to report the tax yourself on your state return if it was not collected at purchase.

Streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and gaming subscriptions are taxed at the full rate. The tax is usually added to your monthly bill and shown separately on your receipt or invoice.

Who collects the tax and where it goes

The business selling you the item collects the sales tax at the register or checkout. They then remit it to the Washington Department of Revenue, which splits the money among the state, King County, and the City of Seattle according to the rates each charges.

Seattle's portion of the tax — the 3.25 percent — goes into the city's general fund and is allocated by the city council each year. In recent years, Seattle has directed portions of sales tax revenue toward transit improvements, park maintenance, library services, and affordable housing programs. The exact use changes with each budget cycle.

You do not file any paperwork related to sales tax as a consumer. The business handles all reporting and payment to the state. Your only interaction with sales tax is seeing it added to your bill.

Sales tax on specific purchases you might make

A grocery store trip is mostly tax-free. Milk, bread, vegetables, meat, and canned goods have no tax. But if you buy a rotisserie chicken from the hot case, prepared salad, or bakery items sold by weight, those are taxed. The rule is whether the food is ready to eat when you buy it.

Clothing shopping has no tax at all. Jeans, shirts, shoes, coats, and accessories are all exempt. This applies to children's clothing too. The only exception is items not considered clothing — like a hat with a team logo that is more of a collectible, though most hats are still treated as clothing.

A restaurant meal or takeout order is fully taxed. If you order a sandwich for $10, you pay $1.03 in tax, bringing the total to $11.03. The same applies to coffee, pizza, sushi, or any prepared food. Delivery fees are usually taxed as well.

A car purchase is taxed on the full sale price. If you buy a car for $20,000 in Seattle, you owe $2,050 in sales tax. This is collected at the dealership and remitted to the state. Used car sales are also taxed at the same rate.

How Seattle's rate compares to other Washington cities

Seattle's 10.25 percent rate is in the middle range for Washington cities. Tacoma is slightly higher at 10.35 percent. Bellevue is lower at 10.025 percent. Olympia, the state capital, is 10.4 percent. The variation comes from different local tax rates that each city has set.

All Washington cities share the same 6.5 percent state rate, so the differences are in the county and local portions. King County's 0.5 percent applies to all cities within the county, including Seattle, Bellevue, and Renton. The local city tax is what changes from place to place.

If you live near Seattle's border and shop in a neighboring city, you will notice the tax rate on your receipt. The tax is based on where the sale happens, not where you live. A purchase in Bellevue is taxed at Bellevue's rate, even if you live in Seattle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sales tax included in the price shown on the shelf?

No. Prices on shelves and price tags in Seattle stores do not include sales tax. The 10.25 percent is added at checkout. This is standard in Washington and most U.S. states. The final amount you pay will be higher than the marked price.

Do I pay sales tax on groceries if I use a coupon or get a discount?

Tax is calculated on the final price after discounts and coupons are applied. If a coupon reduces your bill, the tax is lower too. Sales tax is never charged on the coupon value itself, only on what you actually pay.

What happens if I buy something in Seattle and return it?

When you return an item, the store refunds the full amount including the sales tax you paid. If you bought something for $100 plus $10.25 in tax and returned it, you get back $110.25. The refund process is the same as the purchase process in reverse.

Are there any other taxes I should know about besides sales tax?

Washington has no state income tax, which is why sales tax is higher than in many other states. However, some specific items carry additional taxes. Gasoline has a state fuel tax of about 49 cents per gallon. Alcohol and tobacco products have excise taxes on top of sales tax. Rental cars have a separate rental car tax.

Does the sales tax rate ever change?

The state rate of 6.5 percent has been stable for many years. Local rates can change if a city votes to increase or decrease its portion. Seattle's 3.25 percent local rate has been in place since 2020. Any change would require a city council vote and is announced in advance, so you would see the new rate take effect on a specific date.