What we do

Our role

As Washington state’s primary licensing and tax collection agency, the Department of Revenue oversees about 60 different taxes. We administer Washington State’s business and occupation, public utility, and sales and use taxes. We also administer the capital gains, the Working Families Tax Credit, timber, cigarette and tobacco, real estate, leasehold, estate, and many other tax programs. We:

• Provide taxpayer assistance, information, and education to our approximately 625,683 businesses.
• Process $38 billion in revenues a year which includes all local sales and use tax and more than 90% of state General Fund tax revenues.
• Process over 416,000 business license applications and renewals annually.
• Coordinate with our 39 counties to administer property taxes.
• Develop and implement tax legislation.
• Conduct tax and fiscal research.
• Manage the state's Unclaimed Property Program.
• Locate unregistered businesses.

Our organization

The Department of Revenue is headquartered in Tumwater, with public field offices in Bellingham, Bothell, Kent, Port Angeles, Richland, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Vancouver, and Yakima. We have approximately 1,200 employees, including a wide variety of professions such as agents, analysts, appraisers, attorneys, auditors, examiners, foresters, information technology specialists, and support staff.

Revenue is recognized nationally for its leadership, innovation, compliance, and quality customer service.

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