How Property Taxes Work in Washington State

How Property Taxes Work in Washington State

​Property taxes are one of the main ways communities in Washington State pay for public services. These taxes help fund schools, police, fire departments, roads, libraries, etc. Understanding how property taxes are calculated and where money goes can help one see how tax dollars are used.
 
In Washington, property taxes are based on the value of one’s home or land. Each year, the county assessor estimates how much your property is worth. This is called an assessed value. Once this value is set, it is multiplied by the tax rate to determine how much you owe.
 
The tax rate comprises several smaller parts. These come from different local governments and services, such as cities, counties, school districts, and fire districts. Each of these groups, called taxing districts, determines how much money it needs to operate. The total amount of money that all these districts want to collect is divided by the value of all properties in the area. This is how the total tax rate is determined.
 
Most of your property tax—about 80 to 85 percent—goes to local taxing districts. This money pays for public schools (local levies), fire protection, parks, and city and county services. The remaining 15 to 20 percent of your tax goes to the state government, mainly to fund K-12 public education.
 
The state collects a uniform tax across all counties, which is called the state school levy. Currently, it is approximately $2.70 per $1,000 of the assessed value, although it can change. This means that if your home is worth $300,000, about $810 of your property taxes goes to the state for public schools.
 
In summary, property taxes in Washington are based on the value of property and the needs of local and state services. Most of what you pay remains in your community, helping to keep schools running, roads repaired, and emergency services available. A smaller portion goes to the state to help fund education across Washington.

Here is a short video provided by Washington State that addresses property taxes