Washington's statewide sales tax is 6.5 percent

Washington has no income tax, so the state relies on sales tax to fund schools, roads, and public services. The base rate is 6.5 percent on most goods and services you buy. However, your actual tax depends on where you shop—cities and counties add their own local taxes on top of the state rate, so the total you pay ranges from 6.5 percent to over 10 percent depending on your location.

The state tax applies to most tangible goods: clothing, groceries, electronics, furniture, and restaurant meals all get taxed. A few categories are exempt—prescription medications, most medical equipment, and certain foods like raw vegetables and milk are not taxed. Services like haircuts, car repairs, and plumbing are taxed, but professional services like accounting and legal information are not.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington's state sales tax rate is 6.5 percent, but your total tax is higher because cities and counties add local taxes on top.
  • The combined rate in your area ranges from 6.5 percent to over 10 percent depending on which city and county you are in.
  • Groceries, prescription medications, and medical equipment are not taxed, but restaurant meals and prepared foods are.
  • You can find your exact local rate by entering your address on the Department of Revenue website or asking a retailer.

How local taxes stack on top of the state rate

Every city and county in Washington adds its own sales tax on top of the 6.5 percent state rate. A city might add 1.5 percent, and the county might add another 0.5 percent, bringing your total to 8.5 percent. Some areas add more—Seattle, for example, has a combined rate of 10.25 percent because the city, county, and regional transit authority all collect sales tax.

The local rates vary widely across the state. Rural counties with smaller populations often have lower combined rates, while urban areas tend to be higher. Two towns just a few miles apart can have different rates if one is in a city and the other is in unincorporated county land. When you buy something online and it ships to Washington, the tax is usually based on the address where it is delivered, not where the seller is located.

What is and is not taxed in Washington

Most items you buy in a store are taxed: clothing, shoes, toys, electronics, furniture, and household goods all get the full sales tax. Restaurant meals, coffee, and prepared foods from a deli counter are taxed. Gasoline at the pump is taxed, as are car repairs, haircuts, and most services.

Items that are not taxed include prescription medications filled by a pharmacist, most medical equipment like wheelchairs and hearing aids, and unprepared groceries like raw vegetables, meat, bread, and milk. Vitamins and over-the-counter medications are taxed because they are not prescription. Clothing and shoes are taxed in Washington—some states exempt them, but Washington does not. If you buy something used from a private seller (not a business), there is no sales tax, but if you buy used items from a store or online retailer, tax applies.

Finding your exact local sales tax rate

Your combined rate depends on your specific address. The Washington Department of Revenue maintains a sales tax rate lookup tool on its website where you can enter your street address and see the exact rate for your location. This tool accounts for all city, county, and special district taxes that explore to your address.

If you do not have internet access, you can call your city or county tax assessor's office and ask for your combined rate. Retailers in your area also know the rate and can tell you what you will pay. Keep in mind that rates can change when a city or county passes a new tax measure, so the rate you paid last year might be different this year.

Sales tax on online and mail orders

When you order something online or by mail from an out-of-state seller, Washington sales tax applies if the item is shipped to a Washington address. The retailer is responsible for collecting and sending the tax to Washington, though not all sellers do this correctly. If you receive an item that should have been taxed and was not, you are technically responsible for reporting and paying the tax yourself, though this is rarely enforced for individual purchases.

If you buy from a Washington-based online retailer, the tax is calculated based on your delivery address. If you buy from an out-of-state seller, they should charge you Washington tax, but some smaller sellers may not be set up to do so. Large retailers like Amazon collect Washington tax on most items shipped to the state.

Special sales tax situations

Some purchases have special rules. If you buy a car in Washington, you pay sales tax on the purchase price, and the tax is collected when you register the vehicle with the Department of Licensing. Trade-ins reduce the taxable amount—if you trade in a car worth $5,000 and buy one for $20,000, you pay tax only on $15,000.

If you are a business buying items for resale, you can provide a resale certificate to avoid paying sales tax at the time of purchase. You collect tax from your customers instead. Nonprofits and government agencies may be exempt from sales tax on certain purchases, but they must provide documentation to the seller.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the sales tax in Seattle?

Seattle's combined sales tax rate is 10.25 percent. This includes the 6.5 percent state rate, plus 3.6 percent in city and county taxes, plus a 0.15 percent regional transit tax. Rates in nearby suburbs like Bellevue or Tacoma are lower because they have different local tax structures.

Do I pay sales tax on groceries in Washington?

No, unprepared groceries like raw vegetables, meat, bread, milk, and eggs are not taxed. However, prepared foods from a deli, bakery items sold hot, and restaurant meals are taxed. Vitamins and over-the-counter medicines are also taxed because they are not considered food.

Is clothing taxed in Washington?

Yes, all clothing and shoes are taxed in Washington at the full sales tax rate. There is no clothing exemption. This applies to new clothing, used clothing sold by retailers, and clothing ordered online and shipped to Washington.

Can I avoid sales tax by buying in another state?

No. If you live in Washington and buy something in another state to bring home, you owe Washington sales tax on it. This is called use tax and is the same rate as sales tax. Most people do not report use tax on small personal purchases, but it is technically required.

Why does Washington have such high sales tax?

Washington has no state income tax, so it relies on sales tax to fund schools, roads, and public services. The state rate of 6.5 percent is moderate compared to other states, but when you add local taxes, the combined rate can be high in urban areas. Local taxes fund city services, schools, and transit systems.