Breakfast, lunch, dinner and restaurants
Washington law exempts most grocery type food from retail sales tax . However, the law does not exempt “ prepared food ,” “soft drinks,” or “dietary supplements.” Businesses that sell these “ foods ” must collect sales tax . In addition, all alcoholic items are subject to retail sales tax .
6.500%
The sales tax rates that apply within the city of Seattle are shown in Figure 1. The total sales tax rate in Seattle is 8.8%, with the exception of a 9.3% rate that applies to food and beverages purchased in restaurants and bars. The extra 0.5% is used to pay for construction of the baseball stadium.
The Washington (WA) state sales tax rate is currently 6.5% . Depending on local municipalities, the total tax rate can be as high as 10.4%. Other, local-level tax rates in the state of Washington are quite complex compared against local-level tax rates in other states.
In general, clothing , groceries , medicines and medical devices and industrial equipment are sales tax exempt in many states (but don’t assume they’ll be exempt in all states. Every state is different when it comes to sales tax!)
Although restaurants are not required to pay sales tax on food that they purchase for resale, they are required to collect sales tax on food that they sell to their own customers. Most states put restaurant food , or prepared food , in a different category from grocery food .
Foothills Toyota Scion in Burlington, Washington , is located in a local municipality of northern Washington that allows a fantastic sales tax rate of 8.5%, which is the lowest sales tax in Western Washington .
Washington State Property Taxes As a result of those rules, Washington State has tax rates below the national average. The state’s average effective tax rate is 0.93%, though high home values mean the median annual property tax payment is over $3,600.
Tennessee
Seattle does not collect sales tax . Customers pay retail sales taxes when they make a purchase, and Seattle businesses collect that tax . Businesses then report that sales tax to the state, not to the City of Seattle . To learn more about retail sales tax , visit the Washington State Department of Revenue website .
Any personal or medical goods consumed while performing any activity taxable under the service and other activities B&O tax . Examples include masks, synthetic gloves, toilet paper , bandages, cotton gauze, and items sent home with patients.
Sales tax generally applies to sales of: Alcoholic beverages . Books and publications. Cameras and film. Carbonated and effervescent water. Carbonated soft drinks and mixes. Clothing. Cosmetics. Dietary supplements.
Washington state does not have a personal or corporate income tax . However, people or businesses that engage in business in Washington are subject to business and occupation (B&O) and/or public utility tax. The business’s gross receipts determine the amount of tax they are required to pay.
How Companies Pay . Like residents, Washington businesses get to skip a state income tax . Instead, Washington imposes a “business and occupation” tax based on corporations’ sales or products’ value. Rates vary by industry, with radioactive waste disposal taxed the highest, at 3.3 percent.
Washington is tax – friendly for retirees. The state does not tax social security, pension , or retirement accounts. Additionally, Washington boasts a lower than average property tax and has no inheritance tax for estates less than $2.193 million.