Do non-residents pay sales tax in Washington state?
Yes. Sellers append retail sales tax to the transaction regardless of the home address. Washington eliminated the point-of-sale exemption for nonresidents on July 1, 2019. Stores collect the amounts from each customer.
When might the tax not be charged?
The liability drops off in the case that the transaction functions as an interstate or foreign delivery. Physical receipt of goods drives the rule. The scenarios can be exemplified as below:
- The seller ships the item to a location outside Washington
- A for-hire carrier accepts the goods for immediate out-of-state transport
- Distinct statutes exempt distinct heavy purchases for delivery to Alaska or Hawaii
Can a nonresident get a refund after paying?
Applicants satisfying the qualifications can recover the state portion of the tax. The Washington Department of Revenue processes such requests. The refund applies strictly to the 6.5% state rate. Local jurisdiction charges remain non-refundable.
What data should be saved?
Archive the transaction data. Save receipts that present the vendor information, date and price, & specific tax line items. If the seller executes shipping, retain the bill of lading.
What to do if you think you were charged by mistake
If the item was shipped to out of state and the tax was charged erroneously, this should be directly resolved with the merchant.
Note: If you take possession of the goods in-store, the merchant cannot legally remove the tax at the register — even if you are a qualified nonresident. In such cases, tax should be paid and a refund submission should be requested from the state.
Need sales tax support from Maris & Associates?
Contact us if a Washington purchase intersects with business operations or relocation. Our professionals are ready to confirm the tax applicability & map out the necessary documentation.