Taxes

Two words employers deserve to hear more often: thank you

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

It’s worth saying thank you to our business community. We should tell them more often.

Builder advocates: Prepare to restructure business to avoid new income tax

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The state’s leading trade organization for homebuilders is advising its members to meet with an accountant while staying abreast of legal challenges to the state’s recently adopted income tax.

Heywood asks WA Supreme Court to allow referendum effort on income tax

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax asked the state Supreme Court on April 3 to allow them to pursue a referendum in hopes of giving voters a shot at repealing the controversial new law this November.

Highway preservation at center of new WA transportation budget

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The $16.6 billion supplemental budget expends about $1.2 billion more than the two-year transportation spending blueprint lawmakers approved last year. Under another bill, Washington will do more borrowing to cover added transportation spending.

Capital gains tax deadline extended, 2022 unclaimed refunds up for grabs

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Taxpayers in the higher tax brackets now have a little breathing room to get at least some of their 2025 taxes filed.

However, those who did not file a 2022 tax return must submit their paperwork to the IRS by April 15 if they want to claim any of the $34.7 million in unclaimed refunds owed to Washingtonians.

Income tax signed in Washington with a legal challenge close behind

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson on March 30 signed historic legislation creating an income tax, saying it is a critical step toward making the state’s system of taxation less regressive.

WA’s status solidifies as one of the most expensive places in US

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more expensive in 2023.

Ferguson signs law to undo WA estate tax increase enacted last year

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington will soon end its reign as the state with the nation’s highest estate tax.

Skyrocketing service calls, costs may prompt fire district to seek levy lid lift

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The fire district serving West Richland and other unincorporated parts of Benton County is considering asking voters to up their property taxes so it can meet increasing emergency calls and growing expenses.

Trump’s tariffs were ruled illegal. Where’s the refund of $166 billion — plus interest?

amurray@statesnewsroom.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

How the government will refund the roughly $166 billion in tariffs Trump triggered under a 1970s emergency economic powers statute is slowly coming to light in court documents.

Democrats settle on plan for patching up WA’s strained budget

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Democrats in the Washington Legislature released a budget deal Wednesday balanced with one-time maneuvers, siphoning of rainy day reserves and slashing of child care funding.

Will businesses really leave? That’s the wrong question

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

A new survey from the Association of Washington Business finds 44% of Washington employers are considering moving their personal residence out of state, with more also exploring relocating their businesses. As lawmakers debate new taxes in Olympia, the findings underscore rising anxiety about Washington’s economic competitiveness.

Pasco schools seek second chance at levy funding following election loss

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

The Pasco School District did not waste any time deciding to put a narrowly-rejected levy back before voters.

Retail sales data illustrate a tale of two counties

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

It’s a tale of two economies in Benton and Franklin counties based on the latest taxable retail sales data recently released by state revenue officials.

After marathon debate, WA House advances income tax

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:58:36 -0400

It took over 24 hours of grinding floor debate, but Democrats in the Washington House approved an income tax Tuesday on households earning over $1 million a year.

Grinding it out: WA lawmakers debate income tax bill through the night

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Democrats have the votes to push through their proposed 9.9% income tax on household earnings over $1 million a year. For Republicans at this point, the main way to oppose the policy, which they despise, is to saddle the bill with many amendments.

Data center tax break close to getting zapped by WA Legislature

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

As it stands, data center operators in most Washington counties do not pay the 6.5% sales tax on server equipment. That equipment is typically replaced every three to five years, and current law exempts sales tax on purchasing new or replacing old server equipment. It also doesn’t apply sales tax to labor hired to install the equipment.

New version of income tax bill gets WA governor’s blessing

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Democrats in the Washington state House released a revised income tax proposal Friday that drives more money into early learning programs, increases assistance for lower-income families, and eliminates sales tax on a greater number of consumer products.

Holdout Democrats leave WA House support for income tax in doubt

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Democratic members are withholding support for the proposed income tax on millionaires, saying they want to see if a new version of the controversial legislation, expected on March 5, will satisfy their concerns.

WA governor: Passage of income tax could slip to 2027

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson warned March 3 that the income tax Democratic state lawmakers are pressing to approve in the next nine days might have to wait until next year.

WA governor to fellow Democrats: Income tax bill still misses mark

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington Democrats’ controversial income tax bill emerged from a state House panel on Feb. 27 looking much different than when it arrived.

WA Democrats drop push for business tax to cover Medicaid costs

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington state Democrats are likely abandoning plans for a new tax on employers like Walmart and Amazon, whose workers get health coverage through Medicaid.

Budget bills in WA Legislature would tap rainy day fund, spend heavily on legal payouts

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Democrats in the Washington Legislature on Feb. 22 proposed tapping the state’s rainy day savings account and slashing hundreds of millions of dollars for a child care program for low-income families to balance the state’s budget into next year.

PSD takes steps to place levy back on the ballot

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The Pasco School District appears to not be wasting any time in putting a narrowly-rejected levy back before voters.

‘Absolutely good news’: WA financial outlook brightens as budget talks heat up

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington state budget writers finally got some rosy news on Feb. 16 as they prepare to release their spending plans.

Washington state Senate approves tax on personal income over $1M

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Washington state moved one step closer Feb. 16 to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t.

WA income tax on higher earners clears first legislative hurdle

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Democrats advanced controversial income tax legislation out of a key Washington state Senate committee on Feb. 9 after pledging more proceeds to local public defender costs and increasing a tax break for small businesses.

More financial pain on horizon for state’s forgotten constituency

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Most elected officials have no idea what it’s like to risk everything you have or to struggle to meet payroll for your employees and their families as waves of new taxes, fees and regulations threaten to drown you and your business.

Washington’s competitive edge is eroding

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Washington has long been a high-cost state for employers, but new data show the state is increasingly losing its competitive edge in key areas.

Top properties reveal who pays the most taxes

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Homeowners may grumble about their property tax bills, but the biggest share of the burden falls on large agricultural and industrial companies across Benton and Franklin counties.