Washington transfer tax
Washington charges a graduated state real estate excise tax (REET): 1.1% up to $525,000, 1.28% to $1,525,000, 2.75% to $3,025,000 and 3% above, plus a local REET of usually 0.25%–0.5%. The seller normally pays.
Every county/city location code has a local REET rate on the DOR 84-0013 table: mostly 0.5% (Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver) or 0.25%; a few places 0%; San Juan County 2.0% (includes the land bank tax). Local REET is a flat percent of the whole price.
Highest totals in Washington on a $400,000 sale
Find your city or county
| Place | County | Total rate | Tax on $400,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Airway Heights | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Albion | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Algona | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Almira | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Anacortes | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Arlington | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Asotin | Asotin County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Asotin County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Auburn (King County part) | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Auburn (Pierce County part) | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bainbridge Island | Kitsap County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Battle Ground | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Beaux Arts Village | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bellevue | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bellingham | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Benton City | Benton County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Benton County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Bingen | Klickitat County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Black Diamond | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Blaine | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bonney Lake | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bothell (King County part) | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bothell (Snohomish County part) | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bremerton | Kitsap County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Brewster | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Bridgeport | Douglas County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Brier | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Buckley | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Bucoda | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Burien | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Burlington | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Camas | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Carbonado | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Carnation | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Cashmere | Chelan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Castle Rock | Cowlitz County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Cathlamet | Wahkiakum County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Centralia | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Chehalis | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Chelan | Chelan County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Chelan County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Cheney | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Chewelah | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Clallam County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Clarkston | Asotin County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Cle Elum | Kittitas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Clyde Hill | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Colfax | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| College Place | Walla Walla County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Colton | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Columbia County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Colville | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Conconully | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Concrete | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Connell | Franklin County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Cosmopolis | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Coulee City | Grant County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Coulee Dam | Okanogan County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Coupeville | Island County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Covington | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Cowlitz County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Creston | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Cusick | Pend Oreille County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Darrington | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Davenport | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Dayton | Columbia County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Deer Park | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Des Moines | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Douglas County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| DuPont | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Duvall | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| East Wenatchee | Douglas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Eatonville | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Edgewood | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Edmonds | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Electric City | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ellensburg | Kittitas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Elma | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Elmer City | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Endicott | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Entiat | Chelan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Enumclaw | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ephrata | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Everett | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Everson | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Fairfield | Spokane County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Farmington | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Federal Way | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ferndale | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ferry County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Fife | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Fircrest | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Forks | Clallam County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Franklin County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Friday Harbor | San Juan County | 3.101% | $12,405 |
| Garfield | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Garfield County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| George | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Gig Harbor | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Gold Bar | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Goldendale | Klickitat County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Grand Coulee | Grant County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Grandview | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Granger | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Granite Falls | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Hamilton | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Harrah | Yakima County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Harrington | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Hartline | Grant County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Hatton | Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Hoquiam | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Hunts Point | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ilwaco | Pacific County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Index | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ione | Pend Oreille County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Island County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Issaquah | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Jefferson County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Kahlotus | Franklin County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Kalama | Cowlitz County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Kelso | Cowlitz County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Kenmore | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Kennewick | Benton County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Kent | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Kettle Falls | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| King County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Kirkland | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Kitsap County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Kittitas | Kittitas County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Kittitas County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Klickitat County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Krupp | Grant County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| La Center | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| La Conner | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lacey | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| LaCrosse | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Lake Forest Park | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lake Stevens | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lakewood | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lamont | Whitman County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| Langley | Island County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Latah | Spokane County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Leavenworth | Chelan County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Liberty Lake | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Lind | Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Long Beach | Pacific County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Longview | Cowlitz County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Lyman | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lynden | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Lynnwood | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mabton | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Malden | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Mansfield | Douglas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Maple Valley | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Marcus | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Marysville | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mason County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Mattawa | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| McCleary | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Medical Lake | Spokane County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Medina | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mercer Island | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mesa | Franklin County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Metaline | Pend Oreille County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| Metaline Falls | Pend Oreille County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Mill Creek | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Millwood | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Milton (King County part) | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Milton (Pierce County part) | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Monroe | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Montesano | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Morton | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Moses Lake | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mossyrock | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mount Vernon | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Mountlake Terrace | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Moxee | Yakima County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Mukilteo | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Naches | Yakima County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Napavine | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Nespelem | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Newcastle | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Newport | Pend Oreille County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Nooksack | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Normandy Park | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| North Bend | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| North Bonneville | Skamania County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Northport | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Oak Harbor | Island County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Oakesdale | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Oakville | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Ocean Shores | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Odessa | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Okanogan | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Olympia | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Omak | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Oroville | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Orting | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Othello | Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Pacific (King County part) | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Pacific (Pierce County part) | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Pacific County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Palouse | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Pasco | Franklin County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Pateros | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Pe Ell | Lewis County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Pend Oreille County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Pomeroy | Garfield County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Port Angeles | Clallam County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Port Orchard | Kitsap County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Port Townsend | Jefferson County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Poulsbo | Kitsap County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Prescott | Walla Walla County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| Prosser | Benton County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Pullman | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Puyallup | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Quincy | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Rainier | Thurston County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Raymond | Pacific County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Reardan | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Redmond | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Renton | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Republic | Ferry County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Richland | Benton County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ridgefield | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ritzville | Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Riverside | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Rock Island | Douglas County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Rockford | Spokane County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Rosalia | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Roslyn | Kittitas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Roy | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Royal City | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Ruston | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sammamish | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| San Juan County | 3.101% | $12,405 | |
| SeaTac | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Seattle | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sedro-Woolley | Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Selah | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sequim | Clallam County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Shelton | Mason County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Shoreline | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Skagit County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Skamania County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Skykomish | King County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Snohomish | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Snoqualmie | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Soap Lake | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| South Bend | Pacific County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| South Cle Elum | Kittitas County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| South Prairie | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Spangle | Spokane County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Spokane | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Spokane Valley | Spokane County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sprague | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Springdale | Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| St. John | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Stanwood | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Starbuck | Columbia County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| Steilacoom | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Stevens County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Stevenson | Skamania County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Sultan | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sumas | Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sumner | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Sunnyside | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Tacoma | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Tekoa | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Tenino | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| Tieton | Yakima County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Toledo | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Tonasket | Okanogan County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Toppenish | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Tukwila | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Tumwater | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Twisp | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Union Gap | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Uniontown | Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| University Place | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Vader | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Vancouver | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Wahkiakum County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Waitsburg | Walla Walla County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Walla Walla | Walla Walla County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Walla Walla County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Wapato | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Warden | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Washougal | Clark County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Washtucna | Adams County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Waterville | Douglas County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Waverly | Spokane County | 1.101% | $4,405 |
| Wenatchee | Chelan County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| West Richland | Benton County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Westport | Grays Harbor County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Whatcom County | 1.601% | $6,405 | |
| White Salmon | Klickitat County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Whitman County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Wilbur | Lincoln County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Wilkeson | Pierce County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Wilson Creek | Grant County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Winlock | Lewis County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Winthrop | Okanogan County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Woodinville | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Woodland | Cowlitz County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Woodway | Snohomish County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Yacolt | Clark County | 1.351% | $5,405 |
| Yakima | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Yakima County | 1.351% | $5,405 | |
| Yarrow Point | King County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Yelm | Thurston County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
| Zillah | Yakima County | 1.601% | $6,405 |
Total includes the state tax. Click a column to sort.
Washington state transfer tax calculator
Total transfer tax$4,4051.101% of the price
- State
| Tax | Rate | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington state real estate excise tax (REET)State | 1.1%–3% by price | Seller | $4,400.00 |
| Washington REET state technology feeState | $5 | Seller | $5.00 |
| Total transfer tax (1.101% of the price) | $4,405.00 | ||
Seller pays$4,405.00
Buyer pays$0.00
"Who pays" is the customary or legal default; your purchase contract can move it. State taxes only — pick your place above to add local taxes.
Transfer tax in Washington by home price
| Sale price | Total tax | Effective rate | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,755 | 1.102% | $2,755 | $0 |
| $400,000 | $4,405 | 1.101% | $4,405 | $0 |
| $600,000 | $6,740 | 1.123% | $6,740 | $0 |
| $800,000 | $9,300 | 1.163% | $9,300 | $0 |
| $1,000,000 | $11,860 | 1.186% | $11,860 | $0 |
| $1,500,000 | $18,260 | 1.217% | $18,260 | $0 |
| $2,500,000 | $45,393 | 1.816% | $45,393 | $0 |
| $5,000,000 | $119,080 | 2.382% | $119,080 | $0 |
Negotiable amounts are shown half to each side.
Selling in Washington?
Transfer tax is usually the second-biggest closing cost after the agent's commission. Comparing agents' fees often saves more than any exemption.
Common exemptions
- Gifts (no consideration)
- Inheritance or devise
- Transfers between spouses/domestic partners, divorce or separation
- Transfers to or from government; condemnation
- Foreclosure and deeds in lieu to the lender
- IRS tax-deferred exchanges and nominee transfers (limited)
- Clearing title or adding a spouse/co-owner without consideration
Questions
Who pays REET in Washington?
The seller usually pays; if the seller does not, the buyer becomes liable.
How much is REET on a $800,000 home in Seattle?
State: 1.1% of $525,000 ($5,775) + 1.28% of $275,000 ($3,520) = $9,295; local 0.5% = $4,000; plus $5 fee — $13,300 total.
Are REET thresholds changing?
Yes. For sales from Jan 1, 2027 the 1.1% tier ends at $551,000, the 1.28% tier at $1,551,000 and the 2.75% tier at $3,051,000.
How much is transfer tax on a $500,000 house in Washington?
The state part is $5,505; local taxes can add more — pick your city or county above.
Sources
- Washington DOR — Real estate excise tax
- RCW 82.45.060 — Real estate excise tax rates
- Washington DOR 84-0013 — Local REET rates effective May 1, 2026 (PDF)
Last checked October 13, 2026. Rates in effect for residential sales; commercial, leasehold and entity transfers can differ. Always confirm with your title company or closing attorney before closing.