As Washington state's principal tax collection agency, the Department of Revenue oversees about 60 different taxes. We collect 92.4 percent of state General Fund tax revenues and all local sales tax revenues. In Fiscal Year 2005, collection activities totaled $14.3 billion. The biggest revenue generators were state and local sales and use tax, which accounted for nearly $9 billion; business and occupation (B&O) tax brought in $2.3 billion.
The Department of Revenue processes approximately 2 million tax returns annually.
Businesses constitute the largest group paying state taxes, with nearly 452,000 businesses currently filing tax returns on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Nearly 297,600 other small businesses are registered with the Department, but they have no tax liability and are not required to file tax returns.
The Department of Revenue employs approximately 1,000 people and is headquartered in Olympia , with local offices in 12 cities statewide. More than half are located in the Olympia-Tumwater area. We also operate another 16 offices throughout the state, including 12 that are open to the public to provide taxpayer assistance. The agency employs 45 auditors in 17 out-of-state locations near major business centers.
Key employee functions include:
- Providing taxpayer assistance, information, and education
- Accounting for and processing tax revenues and information
- Distributing money to local governments
- Conducting appeals
- Administering property taxes
- Developing tax legislation
- Handling unclaimed property
- Conducting tax and fiscal research
- Locating unregistered businesses
- Auditing and collecting delinquent taxes, and
- Enforcing compliance.
The Department of Revenue also administers special programs, such as those affecting timber, cigarette, real estate, leasehold, and estate taxes.
The Organization
Click here for an Organization Chart (pdf).
Strategic Business Plan (pdf)