Seattle sales tax guide
Shopping in Seattle means paying one of the higher combined sales tax rates in Washington: 10.35%, against a statewide average combined rate of 9.38%. Among the 30 major US cities we track, Seattle ranks 1 by combined rate. This guide shows how the rate is built and what it adds to real purchases.
How the Seattle rate is built
Includes Sound Transit (RTA) at about 1.40% plus King County and city taxes — among the highest big-city rates in the US. Groceries are exempt in Washington, and the state has no income tax: the high sales tax is the trade-off.
No single government sets the 10.35% figure. The state of Washington sets the base rate of 6.5%, and county, city and special-district taxes stack on top of it. That stacking is why the rate can change across a city boundary — and why the address of the sale, not the seller's home address, decides the tax on most transactions.
What the rate does to real purchases
| Purchase | Tax at 10.35% | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 purchase | $2.59 | $27.59 |
| $100 purchase | $10.35 | $110.35 |
| $500 purchase | $51.75 | $551.75 |
| $1,000 purchase | $103.5 | $1,103.5 |
| $10,000 purchase | $1,035 | $11,035 |
| $35,000 car (where vehicles are taxed at sale) | $3,622.5 | $38,622.5 |
Groceries: Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate in most jurisdictions, even where groceries for home consumption are exempt or reduced.
Seattle vs other major US cities
Seattle is the Washington city we track in detail. Set against the extremes of the 30-city dataset (average 7.93%), its position is clear:
| City | Combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (this guide) | 10.35% | $103.5 |
| Chicago — among the highest | 10.25% | $102.5 |
| Portland — among the lowest | 0% | $0 |
| Louisville — among the lowest | 6% | $60 |
What this means in Seattle
On planned purchases the rate is a line item, not a rounding error: $1,035 on $10,000, which is $97 more than the same purchase at the Washington average rate. Households near a lower-rate city boundary sometimes route vehicles, appliances and furniture purchases accordingly; on weekly spending, the difference is a few dollars a month and rarely worth a trip.
Selling in Seattle
If your business delivers into Seattle, the rate your customer pays is generally the combined rate at their address. Once your Washington sales pass the state's economic-nexus threshold you must register, collect and remit — the threshold and filing basics are covered on the Seattle sales tax page, and the statewide picture is in the Washington tax guide.
Sales tax · combined rate
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
Seattle sales tax FAQs
What is the sales tax rate in Seattle?
The combined sales tax rate in Seattle is approximately 10.35%, made up of the Washington state rate plus county, city and district taxes. Includes Sound Transit (RTA) at about 1.40% plus King County and city taxes — among the highest big-city rates in the US. Groceries are exempt in Washington, and the state has no income tax: the high sales tax is the trade-off.
How much tax do I pay on a $100 purchase in Seattle?
At 10.35%, a $100 taxable purchase in Seattle carries about $10.35 in sales tax, for a total of $110.35. On $1,000 the tax is $103.5; on $10,000 it is $1,035.
Why is the Seattle rate different from the rest of Washington?
Sales tax is stacked: the state sets a base rate and local governments add their own. Seattle adds local layers that bring the combined rate to 10.35%, compared with a statewide average combined rate of about 9.38% — a gap of 0.97 points.
How does Seattle compare with other US cities?
Seattle ranks 1 of the 30 major cities in our dataset by combined rate (dataset average 7.93%). The highest is Seattle at 10.35% and the lowest is Portland at 0%. Against the all-state average combined rate of 6.61%, Seattle is 3.74 points higher.
Are groceries taxed in Seattle?
Groceries are generally exempt from the state sales tax; local rules can differ.
Where can I verify the exact rate for a Seattle address?
The 10.35% figure is the typical combined rate inside city limits; district taxes can shift it block by block. Verify the rate for a specific address with the Washington Department of Revenue before a major purchase or a filing.
Reviewed by Tahir Shehzad, ACMA · State tax data reviewed November 2026 against official sources — see our Methodology and Editorial Policy. Figures are educational estimates, not tax or financial advice. For a filing decision, confirm with the Washington Department of Revenue.