Taxes

Washington’s average annual wage tops $99,000

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s average annual wage grew 4.9% in 2025, according to the state Employment Security Department.

New WA state laws take effect

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Over 200 new Washington state laws took effect June 11. Among them are tax hikes, enhancements to the state’s Voting Rights Act and guidance for retailers on the penny phase-out.

Trump administration $100,000 visa fee for highly skilled foreign workers struck down

afigueroa@statesnewsroom.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A federal judge in Massachusetts June 8 struck down the Trump administration’s efforts to require a $100,000 visa fee for highly skilled immigrant workers, finding the policy is an unlawful tax.

WA governor’s office warns agencies to prepare for ‘significant budget shortfalls’

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State agency leaders received a dire warning from Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office on June 5 that they’re headed toward “what will likely be the most challenging budget any of us has yet faced.”

Foes of WA income tax race to collect initiative signatures

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Let’s Go Washington, the initiative sponsor, has until July 2 to turn in at least 308,911 valid signatures of registered voters to qualify for the ballot. State election officials suggest submitting at least 390,000 to account for invalid ones.

The feds have embraced medical marijuana. Now what?

awatford@stateline.org — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent decision to downgrade the drug classification for medical cannabis will help medical marijuana businesses. But the broader divide between federal and state marijuana policy remains largely intact, leaving states to navigate a fragmented and still-evolving cannabis landscape with few clear answers about what comes next.

Richland district forms task force to chart long-range school needs

Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Richland School District has launched a community facilities task force to develop a long-range facilities plan following a failed bond measure in 2024 to build a third high school in West Richland.

Tri-Cities’ first state-licensed cannabis retailer moves

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Pasco location of the Tri-Cities’ first state-licensed cannabis retailer is moving to a more visible spot.

How the Strait of Hormuz affects the price of filling your gas tank

Wed, 13 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Even though the U.S. now imports far less oil from the Persian Gulf than it once did, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz still drive up gasoline prices because oil is traded on a global market. When supply tightens anywhere, prices rise everywhere – including at American gas pumps.

Let’s Go Washington prepares to gather signatures for income tax repeal effort

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The conservative political committee Let’s Go Washington plans to soon begin gathering signatures as part of its push to overturn the state’s new income tax on high earners.

WA Supreme Court bats down referendum attempt targeting income tax

jgoldsteinstreet@washingtonstatestandard.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s Supreme Court on May 4 denied a conservative political committee’s request to pursue an attempt to repeal the state’s new income tax law with a referendum this fall.

Survey: WA business owner pessimism continues to rise

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State business advocates say more employers are looking to exit the state, largely because of increasing tax burdens.

Looking to buy or sell your boat? Act quick to avoid new state tax

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

If you’re thinking about buying a boat to spend the coming summer on the Columbia River, you have until July 1 to avoid a new state sales tax.

Pasco to consider new additional sales tax

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Pasco City Council will consider on May 4 whether to impose a new 0.1% sales tax to pay for maintaining its roads, further securing its position in the region as the municipality with the highest overall sales tax rate.

Public Facilities District seeks new board members

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A public agency that supports facilities such as the Toyota Center, Three Rivers Convention Center and the Reach Museum is looking to fill three vacancies on its board of directors.

Fire district proposes tax increase to meet rising service demands

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The fire district serving West Richland and other unincorporated parts of Benton County will ask its residents to raise their property taxes to meet increasing demands for services and growing costs.

Curious when all WA’s new taxes will kick in? There’s a calendar for that

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Now that the dust is settling after the short 2026 legislative session, a conservative tax policy think tank has compiled a multiyear breakdown of when the slew of new state taxes and handful of tax cuts go in and out of effect.

Court battle ignites over Washington’s new income tax

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners filed a lawsuit April 9, arguing the controversial law is unconstitutional and in conflict with nearly a century of state Supreme Court precedent.

Two words employers deserve to hear more often: thank you

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

It’s worth saying thank you to our business community. We should tell them more often.

Builder advocates: Prepare to restructure business to avoid new income tax

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The state’s leading trade organization for homebuilders is advising its members to meet with an accountant while staying abreast of legal challenges to the state’s recently adopted income tax.

Heywood asks WA Supreme Court to allow referendum effort on income tax

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax asked the state Supreme Court on April 3 to allow them to pursue a referendum in hopes of giving voters a shot at repealing the controversial new law this November.

Highway preservation at center of new WA transportation budget

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The $16.6 billion supplemental budget expends about $1.2 billion more than the two-year transportation spending blueprint lawmakers approved last year. Under another bill, Washington will do more borrowing to cover added transportation spending.

Capital gains tax deadline extended, 2022 unclaimed refunds up for grabs

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Taxpayers in the higher tax brackets now have a little breathing room to get at least some of their 2025 taxes filed.

However, those who did not file a 2022 tax return must submit their paperwork to the IRS by April 15 if they want to claim any of the $34.7 million in unclaimed refunds owed to Washingtonians.

Income tax signed in Washington with a legal challenge close behind

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson on March 30 signed historic legislation creating an income tax, saying it is a critical step toward making the state’s system of taxation less regressive.

WA’s status solidifies as one of the most expensive places in US

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Drawing from an array of federal and state data, a new analysis shows the state’s cost of living rising faster than the national average over that time, with only California, New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C. considered more expensive in 2023.

Ferguson signs law to undo WA estate tax increase enacted last year

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington will soon end its reign as the state with the nation’s highest estate tax.

Skyrocketing service calls, costs may prompt fire district to seek levy lid lift

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The fire district serving West Richland and other unincorporated parts of Benton County is considering asking voters to up their property taxes so it can meet increasing emergency calls and growing expenses.

Trump’s tariffs were ruled illegal. Where’s the refund of $166 billion — plus interest?

amurray@statesnewsroom.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

How the government will refund the roughly $166 billion in tariffs Trump triggered under a 1970s emergency economic powers statute is slowly coming to light in court documents.

Democrats settle on plan for patching up WA’s strained budget

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Democrats in the Washington Legislature released a budget deal Wednesday balanced with one-time maneuvers, siphoning of rainy day reserves and slashing of child care funding.

Will businesses really leave? That’s the wrong question

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:30:00 -0400

A new survey from the Association of Washington Business finds 44% of Washington employers are considering moving their personal residence out of state, with more also exploring relocating their businesses. As lawmakers debate new taxes in Olympia, the findings underscore rising anxiety about Washington’s economic competitiveness.