Invite a speaker to your event

The Department of Revenue has a Speaker’s Network program. This program helps educate taxpayers through in-person, virtual, or hybrid presentations.

This free public service is offered to civic, educational, professional, social, and business organizations in Washington that do not intend to make a profit from it.

How do I request a speaker?

To request a speaker, complete the online Speech request form at least six weeks before your event. This amount of time is needed to find a suitable speaker.

We encourage you to provide as much information about your event and the topic(s) you are interested in. We will review the information to determine whether we can accommodate the request.

Note: Submitting the request does not guarantee a speaker for your event. While we attempt to accommodate every request, there may be occasions when we are unable to provide a speaker.

Is there a fee to request a speaker?

No. There is no charge; this is a free public service.

Language access services

The Department of Revenue is committed to ensuring that everyone understands their tax reporting responsibilities, regardless of the language they speak.

We have fluent Spanish speakers available for presentations and can provide other language services upon request. Language services include spoken language services, written translation, American Sign Language, and auxiliary aids for people who have communication disabilities.

Topics

Listed below are some of the topics that speakers are prepared to present about. If your group is interested in a topic not included on the list, we will make every effort to provide you with a speaker on that subject.

• Business registration 

  • City, county, or state endorsements. 
  • Registration and license requirements. 
  • Tax return reporting frequencies.

• General topics

  • Business and occupation (B&O) tax.
  • Public utility taxes.
  • Local coding for retail sales tax.
  • Paying retail sales tax and/or use tax on purchases.
  • Services the department can provide.

• Property taxes

  • What is taxed and what is not taxed.
  • The valuation process.
  • Levy setting and limits.
  • Local tax options.
  • Senior citizen property tax exemptions and deferrals.
  • Incentives for preserving "open spaces".

• Resolving tax liability disputes

  • The audit/assessment process.
  • The review and appeal process.

• Taxpayer Rights and Responsibilities

  • Taxpayer Rights Advocate process.

• Tax policy

  • New legislation.
  • Our tax system: How did we get here?
  • Where your tax dollars come from and where they go.
  • The department's rule making process.

• The legislative role

  • How a tax bill becomes law.
  • Revenue for vital public services.
  • Lobbying for change in the tax laws.

• Unclaimed property

  • How to search for and claim your unclaimed property.
  • The unclaimed property reporting process.
  • Services the department can provide.