Shoppers to see higher sales tax rates April 1 in many areas statewide

OLYMPIA – March 28, 2017 – Many consumers will see their local sales tax rates increase starting Saturday, April 1. This includes new rates authorized by voters last year in Pierce, Snohomish and King counties to expand Sound Transit service.

Tax rates for communities in the Sound Transit service area will increase by five-tenths of one percent. Access a full list of the new tax rate for each area in this special notice.

Shoppers in the city of Kalama will pay a 7.9 percent sales and use tax rate. That new sales tax rate includes a one-tenth of one percent increase for public safety, and a one-tenth of one percent rate increase to help support emergency communications in Cowlitz County. The first 36 months of vehicle sales and leases are exempt from the public safety tax increase.

Consumers in the city of Lynnwood will pay a sales and use tax rate of 10.4 percent. The increase includes one-tenth of one percent to help support a transportation benefit district, and five-tenths of one percent for the Regional Transit Authority.

Shoppers in the city of Mount Vernon will pay a new tax rate of 8.7 percent on purchases. The two-tenths of one percent rate increase will help pay for a new transportation benefit district.

The sales tax rate in Cowlitz County will increase by one-tenth of one percent to help pay for emergency communications systems and facilities. The new sales tax rates for cities in Cowlitz County are:

• 7.8 percent in unincorporated Cowlitz County

• 8.0 percent in Castle Rock

• 7.9 percent in Kalama and Woodland

• 8.1 percent in Kelso and Longview

Consumers in the cities and unincorporated areas of Kitsap County will pay three-tenths of one percent more in sales tax, to a total tax rate of 9.0 percent. The increase will be used for passenger-only ferry services.

The sales tax rate in the cities and unincorporated areas of Lincoln County will rise by three-tenths of one percent to a total tax rate of 8.0 percent to help pay for criminal justice and public safety. The first 36 months of vehicle sales and leases are exempt from this tax increase.

Consumers in the Spokane County Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA) will pay one-tenth of one percent more in local sales and use tax to support transportation purposes. The new tax rates for areas within the transportation area are:

• 8.8 percent in the unincorporated areas of the PTBA
• 8.8 percent in Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, the city of Spokane and Spokane Valley
• 9.0 percent in Airway Heights

Revenue provides a mobile app for iOS and Android users to find the right sales tax in any location around the state. Download the version from Revenue’s website: Tax Rate Mobile.

To read more about the rate changes, visit Revenue’s local tax rate page.

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