Local sales taxes going up in some Washington cities, counties

Increases help pay for juvenile detention facilities, transportation, housing and more

OLYMPIA, WASH. – March 12, 2018 – Consumers in several Washington cities and counties will pay more in sales tax on purchases starting April 1, 2018. New tax rate increases will go to pay for emergency communications services, housing, transportation, and juvenile detention facilities in those communities.

Local sales tax rates in the cities and in unincorporated areas of Clallam County will increase one-tenth of 1 percent to help pay for juvenile detention facilities and jails. The new sales tax rates are:

  • Unincorporated Clallam – 8.5 percent

  • Forks – 8.5 percent

  • Port Angeles – 8.7 percent

  • Sequim – 8.8 percent

Shoppers in the city of Connell will pay a new sales tax rate of 8.2 percent, an increase of two-tenths of 1 percent. The increase will be used to help pay for transportation services in a newly established transportation benefit district.

The local sales tax rate for all of Columbia County will increase by one-tenth of 1 percent to help pay for emergency communication systems and facilities. The new sales tax rates are:

  • Unincorporated Columbia – 8.2 percent

  • Dayton – 8.4 percent

  • Starbuck – 8.2 percent

The local sales tax rate in the city of Ellensburg will increase by one-tenth of 1 percent, to a total sales tax rate of 8.3 percent. The tax increase will go to help pay for housing and related services.

Consumers in the city of Long Beach will pay a new sales tax rate of 8.3 percent, an increase of two-tenths of 1 percent. The increase will help pay for transportation services.

The city of Moses Lake will see a local sales tax increase of two-tenths of 1 percent to help pay for transportation services. The new sales tax rate will be 8.1 percent.

Shoppers in the city of Mukilteo will pay a total sales tax rate of 10.4 percent, an increase of one-tenth of 1 percent. The increase will be used to help pay for transportation services.

The local sales tax rate in cities and in unincorporated areas of Okanogan County will increase by one-tenth of 1 percent to help pay for juvenile detention facilities and jails. The new sales tax rates are:

  • Unincorporated Okanogan County, Coulee Dam, Elmer City, Nespelem – 7.8 percent

  • Unincorporated transportation benefit area – 8.2 percent

  • Brewster, Conconully, Omak, Oroville, Pateros and Riverside – 8.2 percent

  • City of Okanogan, Tonasket and Winthrop – 8.3 percent

  • Twisp – 8.5 percent

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

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

The Department of Revenue is Washington state’s primary tax agency, nationally recognized as a trusted leader in tax administration and customer service. Revenue administers nearly 60 categories of taxes that help fund vital public services. It also oversees programs that return money to the public, including the Working Families Tax Credit and Unclaimed Property.