Seattle Sales Tax Calculator

As of 2026, the combined sales tax rate in Seattle is 10.55%. This combined rate is a cumulative stack of several state and local tax components:

• Washington State Sales Tax: 6.50%
• City of Seattle Sales Tax: 1.00%
• King County Sales Tax: 0.15%
• Regional Transit Authority (RTA) / Transit Tax: 1.40%
• Public Safety & Other District Levies: 1.50%

Together, these rates total 10.55%, making Seattle one of the higher sales tax jurisdictions in the nation. The local transit tax (RTA) applies to areas served by Sound Transit to fund public transportation projects.

Calculating the sales tax on a transaction in Seattle involves multiplying the taxable purchase price by the combined rate of 10.55%.

The formula is:

To find the total check-out price including tax, use:

Example Calculation (for a $500.00 purchase):

• Pre-Tax Item Price: $500.00
• Seattle Sales Tax: $500.00 × 0.1055 = $52.75
• Total Amount Due: $500.00 + $52.75 = $552.75

Washington is a destination-based sourcing state for sales tax. This means that when a sale is shipped or delivered, the tax rate is determined by the destination (where the buyer receives the product), rather than where the seller is located.

For local businesses shipping orders to customers in Seattle, or remote online merchants who have established economic nexus in Washington (crossing the $100,000 threshold), the 10.55% Seattle combined rate must be collected for any delivery address within the Seattle city limits.

Not all goods and services are subject to the combined 10.55% rate. Tax rules in Washington offer several key exemptions and reductions:

• Groceries & Food: Basic grocery items and unprepared foods are exempt from sales tax in Washington state. Prepared foods sold at restaurants are fully taxable at the combined rate.
• Prescription Medications: Prescription drugs are fully exempt from sales tax in Washington when prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner.
• Software, SaaS & Digital Goods: Washington state treats software as a service (SaaS) and digital products as fully taxable digital automated services (DAS).
• Prepared Foods & Restaurants: Dining at restaurants or buying prepared hot meals is generally taxable at the full combined rate.

For e-commerce brands and service providers selling to customers in Seattle, physical presence is no longer the sole trigger for sales tax collection. Out-of-state remote sellers must track their annual revenue and transaction counts. Reaching Washington's economic nexus threshold ($100,000 in gross sales) triggers an obligation to collect and remit sales taxes.

While sales tax is collected directly by registered vendors at the point of sale, use tax is a self-assessed tax. It applies when taxable goods or services are purchased for use, storage, or consumption in Seattle from a vendor who did not collect sales tax (such as an out-of-state online retailer). Crucially, the sales tax and use tax rates for Seattle are identical at 10.55%.

If your business has physical or economic nexus within Washington, you must register for a sales tax permit before you begin collecting tax from customers in Seattle. You can submit your application via the Washington State Department of Revenue's My DOR portal.

Running a business in Seattle requires rigorous documentation. If your business sells wholesale goods, you must collect a valid reseller permit (Washington's term for resale certificate) from the buyer to justify not charging sales tax. Keep all records, including invoices and reseller permits, for at least 5 years.