Seattle has the highest sales tax in Washington state at 10.25 percent.
Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Tukwila, Lynnwood, and most other cities in King County also have a 10.25 percent rate. No city in Washington currently has a rate higher than that.
The top rate cities
The following cities have a combined sales tax rate of 10.25 percent.
Seattle is the largest city at this rate. Most purchases made anywhere inside Seattle city limits are taxed at 10.25 percent.
- Bellevue, across Lake Washington from Seattle, also charges 10.25 percent. The Bellevue Square shopping center uses this rate.
- Redmond, home of Microsoft, has the same 10.25 percent rate.
- Kirkland, on the east side of Lake Washington, charges 10.25 percent.
- Renton, south of Seattle near Boeing, has a 10.25 percent rate.
- Tukwila, where the Westfield Southcenter mall is located, charges 10.25 percent. This is one of the busiest shopping areas in the state.
- Lynnwood, north of Seattle, has a 10.25 percent rate.
- Edmonds, also north of Seattle, charges 10.25 percent.
- Shoreline, between Seattle and Lynnwood, has a 10.25 percent rate.
Most other cities in King County also have the 10.25 percent rate. There are a few small exceptions in unincorporated areas, but the vast majority of King County shoppers pay 10.25 percent.
Why Seattle has the highest rate
Seattle has the highest sales tax because voters have approved nearly every local option tax allowed by state law.
The state rate is 6.5 percent everywhere in Washington. On top of that, Seattle and King County add the following local taxes.
The basic county tax adds 0.5 percent. The city tax adds another 0.5 percent. The criminal justice tax adds 0.3 percent. The mental health tax adds 0.1 percent. The transportation benefit district tax adds 0.2 percent. The public facility district tax adds 0.033 percent.
And the biggest one is the regional transit tax. Voters in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties approved a 1.4 percent sales tax to fund light rail, buses, and other transit projects.
Add all those to the 6.5 percent state rate, and you get 10.25 percent.
Other cities in Washington simply have not added as many local option taxes. Spokane, for example, has a rate of 8.9 percent. It has the state rate plus a few local taxes, but not the transit tax or the criminal justice tax or the public facility district tax.
How the highest rate compares to other cities
Here is how Seattle's 10.25 percent rate compares to other major Washington cities.
Tacoma has a rate of 10.2 percent. That is just slightly lower than Seattle.
Olympia has a rate of 9.2 percent. Everett has a rate of 9.2 percent. Both are in the Puget Sound region but have lower local taxes than Seattle.
Spokane has a rate of 8.9 percent. Bellingham has a rate of 8.7 percent. Vancouver has a rate of 8.5 percent. Yakima has a rate of 8.0 percent.
So Seattle is clearly the highest, with Tacoma coming in a close second.
Does the highest rate apply everywhere in Seattle?
Yes. The 10.25 percent rate applies to all retail purchases made anywhere within Seattle city limits. North Seattle, South Seattle, downtown, West Seattle, all charge the same rate.
If you drive a few miles outside the city limits, the rate can change. Unincorporated King County has a slightly different rate. Some nearby cities like SeaTac and Des Moines also have 10.25 percent, but others like Normandy Park have a different rate. You need to check the rate for the specific address where you are buying.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What city has the highest sales tax in Washington state?
Seattle has the highest sales tax in Washington at 10.25 percent. Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Tukwila, Lynnwood, and most other cities in King County also have a 10.25 percent rate. No city in Washington currently has a rate higher than 10.25 percent.
What is the sales tax rate in Seattle?
The combined sales tax rate in Seattle is 10.25 percent. This includes the state rate of 6.5 percent and local taxes totaling 3.75 percent. The local taxes include the basic county tax, city tax, criminal justice tax, mental health tax, transportation district tax, public facility district tax, and regional transit tax.
What is the sales tax rate in Tacoma?
Tacoma has a combined rate of 10.2 percent. This is slightly lower than Seattle's 10.25 percent. Tacoma is in Pierce County, which has the regional transit tax but slightly lower other local taxes than King County.
What is the sales tax rate in Spokane?
Spokane has a combined rate of 8.9 percent. Spokane does not have the regional transit tax that drives up rates in the Seattle area. The local portion in Spokane is much smaller than in King County.
Why is sales tax higher in Seattle than in other Washington cities?
Seattle has a higher sales tax because voters have approved multiple local option taxes that other cities have not approved. The biggest difference is the regional transit tax of 1.4 percent, which applies in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties but not in Spokane or other parts of the state. Seattle also has a public facility district tax and a transportation benefit district tax that many other cities do not have.
Is there any city in Washington with a sales tax over 10.25 percent?
No. As of 2026, no city in Washington has a combined sales tax rate higher than 10.25 percent. The state caps the total local sales tax rate that any city or county can charge. Seattle and other King County cities are at or near that cap.
Does the highest sales tax rate apply to online purchases?
If you live in Seattle and order something online, the seller is supposed to charge you Seattle's 10.25 percent sales tax rate. Most large online retailers like Amazon do this automatically based on your delivery address. The rate is the same whether you buy in a physical store or online.