Washington's Sales Tax Rate

Washington State has no income tax, but it does have a sales tax. The state sales tax rate is 6.5 percent. However, most people in Washington pay more than that because cities and counties add their own local sales taxes on top of the state rate.

Your total sales tax depends on where you live and shop. A purchase in Seattle, for example, is taxed at 10.25 percent (6.5 percent state plus 3.75 percent local). In Spokane, the rate is 8.9 percent. A small town might have a lower combined rate. When you see a price tag, the sales tax shown at checkout reflects your specific location's combined rate.

Key Takeaways

  • Washington State's base sales tax is 6.5 percent, but your actual rate includes local taxes added by your city or county.
  • Combined sales tax rates across Washington range from about 7.6 percent to over 11 percent depending on location.
  • Most goods are taxable in Washington, but groceries, prescription medications, and some medical equipment are exempt.
  • You pay sales tax at the point of sale for physical goods, but online purchases follow the same rules as in-store purchases.

How Local Taxes Add to the State Rate

Washington cities and counties set their own sales tax rates within state limits. These local rates typically range from 1.1 percent to 4.5 percent, depending on the jurisdiction. A city might add 2 percent, and the county might add another 1.5 percent, for a combined local rate of 3.5 percent. Add that to the state's 6.5 percent and you get 10 percent total.

The local portion funds schools, public transportation, parks, and other services in your area. Different cities in the same county can have different rates. If you shop near a city border, you might notice the tax changes slightly depending on which side of the line you're on. This is why a gallon of milk costs a different amount in tax between two nearby towns.

What Items Are Taxed and What Are Exempt

Most physical goods sold in Washington are subject to sales tax. Clothing, electronics, furniture, and household items all get taxed at your local combined rate. However, Washington exempts certain items from sales tax entirely.

Groceries and food are not taxed in Washington. This includes bread, milk, vegetables, meat, and other items you buy at a grocery store to cook at home. Restaurant meals and prepared foods are taxed. Prescription medications are also exempt. Over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers and cold medicine are taxed, but prescription drugs are not. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and oxygen equipment used for medical purposes are exempt. Diapers and feminine hygiene products became exempt starting January 1, 2022.

Services are generally not taxed in Washington. A haircut, car repair, or dental cleaning does not have sales tax added. However, some services bundled with goods—like installation of carpet or appliances—may be taxed depending on how the transaction is structured.

Sales Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases

If you order something online from a retailer and have it shipped to Washington, you owe sales tax at your local rate. Large online retailers like Amazon collect and send this tax to Washington automatically. Smaller sellers may not collect it, but Washington residents are technically responsible for reporting and paying the tax themselves, though enforcement is limited.

If you buy something from an out-of-state retailer that does not ship to Washington, you do not owe Washington sales tax. If you travel to another state and buy something there, you pay that state's tax. When you bring it back to Washington, you do not owe additional tax.

Finding Your Specific Local Sales Tax Rate

To find the exact sales tax rate where you live or shop, use the Washington Department of Revenue's sales tax rate lookup tool on their website. Enter your address or the city name, and it shows your combined state and local rate. You can also call your city or county assessor's office.

If you own a business or manage inventory, knowing your exact rate matters for pricing and record-keeping. For personal shopping, your receipt always shows the tax charged, so you can see the rate applied to that transaction. Rates can change when local jurisdictions vote to adjust their portion, so checking the official rate before a major purchase is worth doing.

How Sales Tax Differs From Income Tax

Washington is one of only a few states with no income tax. Instead, the state relies heavily on sales tax and other taxes like property tax and business taxes to fund government services. This means Washington residents pay tax on what they spend rather than what they earn.

For people with high incomes, this can mean paying less in total state tax than in states with income tax. For people with lower incomes who spend most of what they earn, sales tax can represent a larger share of their budget. The trade-off is that Washington has no income tax filing requirement for residents, which simplifies tax time for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay sales tax on used items?

Used items sold by private individuals are not taxed. If you buy a used car from a friend or used furniture at a garage sale, there is no sales tax. However, used items sold by a business or dealer are taxed at the same rate as new items.

Is clothing taxed in Washington?

Yes, most clothing is taxed in Washington. Shirts, pants, shoes, and jackets are all subject to sales tax. There is no clothing exemption in Washington, unlike some other states.

What if I buy something in Washington and move it to another state?

You pay Washington sales tax when you buy it in Washington, regardless of where you move it later. You do not owe tax to the other state unless you buy something there. Sales tax is based on where the purchase happens, not where the item ends up.

Can I get a sales tax refund if I return something?

If a store refunds your money for a returned item, the sales tax is refunded as well. You get back the full amount you paid, including tax. If you exchange an item for another one, the tax is recalculated on the new purchase price.

Do I owe sales tax on digital downloads like music or apps?

Digital products like music, movies, apps, and e-books are generally taxed in Washington. When you read music or buy an app, sales tax is added based on your location. Some digital services may be treated differently depending on how they are structured.