Does Washington Have State Income Tax?

Washington does not have a state income tax, so there’s no traditional Washington tax refund to track. Learn more about Washington state taxes below.

State: Washington
Tax Information Website: Learn more about Washington taxes.
Tax Assistance Phone Number: 360-705-6705
Other Contact Info: Contact the Washington State Department of Revenue.

FAQs

How to check Washington tax refund?

Washington does not have a state income tax, so there’s no traditional state tax refund to track.

However, Washington residents may qualify for the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), which is a refundable credit. Check your Washington WFTC refund status. If you haven’t applied for the credit yet, you can do so on the Washington Department of Revenue website.

If you believe you have paid Washington sales tax in error, you should ask the seller directly for a refund. Learn more about applying for a sales tax refund.

Does Washington have a state income tax?

No, Washington does not have a typical individual income tax as of tax year 2025. However, Washington does levy a capital gains tax on individuals.

Does Washington tax Social Security?

No, because Washington doesn’t have a traditional income tax, it also does not tax Social Security or any other form of retirement income. Federal taxes on Social Security may still apply.

Does Washington tax retirement income?

No, Washington doesn’t tax retirement income. This means all retirement income, including pension payments, Social Security benefits, and withdrawals from 401(k) plans and IRAs, is free from state taxes. Washington’s capital gains tax does not apply to retirement savings accounts.

Do you need to file a tax return in Washington?

You generally don’t need to file a personal Washington state income tax return, since the state does not have an income tax. However, if you owe tax on capital gains income, you will need to file a Washington Capital Gains return.

In addition, if you purchased items from unlicensed vendors, you may need to file and pay use tax. For example, say you made an online purchase from an out-of-state retailer that is not licensed to collect Washington state and local taxes. In this situation, individual taxpayers are responsible for remitting the use tax. Learn more about the Washington use tax.

Many Washington residents will still need to file a federal tax return if their income meets the IRS tax filing threshold (and may be able to claim a federal tax refund).

Does Washington have a corporate income tax?

Washington does not have a state corporate income tax. However, businesses may need to pay other kinds of taxes on gross receipts, sales and use tax, and more. Learn more about Washington business taxes.

Does Washington have a sales tax?

Yes, Washington has a state sales tax rate of 6.5%. Many cities and counties also have their own local sales tax, so the combined total sales tax rate varies by location.

Is Washington a tax-free state?

Although Washington doesn’t tax income, it’s not a tax-free state. Examples of Washington taxes include the following:

• Capital gains tax
• Business and occupation tax (B&O)
• Retail sales tax
• Use tax
• Property tax
• Other excise taxes

The bottom line

There are no personal Washington state refunds because Washington doesn’t have a state income tax. Residents don’t have to file a personal state return for this reason. However, you may still qualify for refundable benefits like the Working Families Tax Credit or need to file a return for capital gains or use tax, depending on your situation.

When you’re ready to file, TaxAct® can help you take care of your federal taxes and make sure you don’t miss out on any credits or refunds you’re eligible for.

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.

All TaxAct offers, products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Does Washington Have State Income Tax?

FAQs

The bottom line

Related Posts

I'm Interested In ...