Washington Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
Washington has some of the highest sales tax rates in the country. The state rate is 6.5%, and local jurisdictions stack city and county taxes on top. Seattle is at 10.25%, and the Eastside suburbs (Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond) run 10.2–10.3%. The statewide average combined rate is around 9.25%, but if you're doing expense reports from the Seattle metro, you need to use the specific city rate — the difference between 9.25% and 10.25% matters on larger purchases.
The calculator defaults to Washington's average of 9.25%. For Seattle specifically, change it to 10.25%. For Bellevue and Kirkland, use 10.30%. For Spokane, 8.90% is more accurate. Smaller cities and rural areas can range from 7.5% to 9%. Washington makes it easy to look up your exact rate — the Department of Revenue has a rate lookup tool on their website that works by address.
Current Washington Sales Tax Rates
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State rate | 6.50% |
| Average local rate | 2.75% |
| Average combined rate | 9.25% |
| Location | Combined Rate |
|---|---|
| Seattle | 10.25% |
| Bellevue | 10.30% |
| Tacoma | 10.20% |
| Spokane | 8.90% |
| Kirkland | 10.30% |
What's Taxable in Washington
Washington taxes most retail sales of tangible goods. Groceries (unprepared food) are exempt from sales tax. Prescription drugs are exempt. Restaurant meals and prepared food are fully taxable. Washington also taxes some services — it's broader than most states in what it considers taxable. There's no state income tax in Washington, so sales tax revenue is a significant part of how the state funds services.
Worked Example
You bought electronics in Seattle. Total on the receipt: $312.45 at Seattle's 10.25% rate.
$312.45 ÷ 1.1025 = $283.40 (pre-tax price)
$312.45 − $283.40 = $29.05 (tax amount)
That's $29.05 in sales tax on a $283.40 purchase before tax. The main calculator handles this automatically — enter the total and select your rate, and the pre-tax price and tax amount appear instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seattle's combined sales tax rate is 10.25% — made up of 6.5% state, 0.15% King County, 1.4% Sound Transit, 0.5% Metro Transit, 0.2% King County Criminal Justice, 0.1% Mental Health, and 1.4% City of Seattle. It's a stack of levies that adds up quickly. For most Seattle purchases, divide by 1.1025 to find the pre-tax price.
No. Washington exempts food for human consumption (unprepared groceries) from the state sales tax. Restaurant meals, prepared food, and food sold hot or ready-to-eat are taxable at the full combined rate. Dietary supplements, vitamins, and sports drinks are generally taxable. Prescription drugs are exempt.
Washington has no state income tax. Sales tax is one of the primary revenue sources for the state and local governments. Cities and counties have significant latitude to add levies for transportation (Sound Transit in Seattle is a major one), public safety, mental health, and other services. The stacking of these levies is what drives rates to 10%+.
The Washington Department of Revenue has a rate lookup tool at dor.wa.gov where you can enter your address and get the exact combined rate. This is useful because rates can differ significantly even within the same county — sometimes even between neighboring ZIP codes — due to city boundaries and special district boundaries.