When buying or selling a home in Washington State, understanding the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) is essential for accurate closing cost planning. REET is charged on the sale of real property and has two components: the state rate (which is graduated based on sale price) and the local rate, which varies by county and city. The rates below reflect the local REET rates effective April 1, 2025.
Local & State REET Tax Calculator
Washington State REET Calculator
State graduated + local rates — Effective April 1, 2025
Search by city or county. Click a result, then enter a sale price for a full REET breakdown.
The local REET is collected in addition to the state REET at closing. Local rates range from 0% to 2.00% depending on where the property is located. Most cities across Western Washington charge 0.50%, while many rural Eastern Washington communities charge 0.25%.
Local REET Rates by County
King County — 0.50% (all cities) All King County cities — including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Shoreline, Kenmore, Sammamish, Renton, Issaquah, and Mercer Island — carry a local REET rate of 0.50%. The sole exception is Skykomish at 0.25%.
Snohomish County — 0.50% (most cities) Edmonds, Everett, Marysville, Bothell, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Stanwood, Mill Creek, and Monroe all carry 0.50%. Darrington is the only exception at 0.25%.
Pierce County — 0.50% (most cities) Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Lakewood, and most Pierce County cities are at 0.50%. Eatonville is the exception at 0.25%.
Whatcom County — 0.50% (all cities) Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, and all other Whatcom cities charge 0.50%.
Skagit County — 0.50% (all cities) Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Burlington, La Conner, and Sedro-Woolley are all at 0.50%.
Island County — 0.50% (all cities) Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and Langley all carry 0.50%.
San Juan County — 2.00% San Juan County and Friday Harbor carry the highest local REET rate in the state at 2.00% — an important consideration for buyers and sellers on the San Juan Islands.
Kitsap County — 0.50% (all cities) Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, and Port Orchard are all at 0.50%.
Thurston County — mostly 0.50% Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm are 0.50%. Rainier is 0.25%.
Chelan County — mixed Wenatchee, Leavenworth, and Chelan City are 0.50%. Cashmere and Entiat are 0.25%.
Spokane County — mostly 0.50% Spokane City, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, and Airway Heights are 0.50%. Several smaller cities including Fairfield, Medical Lake, and Rockford are 0.25%. Latah and Waverly have a 0.00% local rate.
Yakima County — mixed Yakima County Unincorporated and many smaller cities are 0.25%. Grandview, Granger, Toppenish, Wapato, Union Gap, Mabton, Sunnyside, and Yakima City are 0.50%.
Eastern Washington — generally 0.25% Counties including Adams, Asotin, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Klickitat, Lincoln, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Whitman, and most of Walla Walla County charge 0.25% local REET.
Zero local REET cities: A handful of locations have no local REET at all: Starbuck (Columbia), Krupp (Grant), Metaline (Pend Oreille), Lamont (Whitman), Latah and Waverly (Spokane), and Prescott (Walla Walla).
H2: How Local REET Affects Your Closing Costs
On a $900,000 home in Seattle (King County), the local REET alone adds $4,500 to closing costs. On a $1,500,000 waterfront home in the San Juan Islands, the 2.00% local rate adds $30,000 — making San Juan County one of the most expensive REET jurisdictions in the state. Always factor both state and local REET into your net sheet when listing or making an offer.
H2: Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays REET in Washington State? REET is typically paid by the seller at closing, though it can be negotiated as part of the purchase agreement.
Is the local REET rate the same as the state rate? No. The state REET is graduated — lower rates for lower sale prices, higher rates for higher sale prices. The local rate is a flat percentage added on top, determined by the city or county where the property is located.
Where can I find my property’s REET location code? Each city has a unique REET location code assigned by the Washington Department of Revenue. Your title company will apply the correct code at closing.
Closing paragraph:
Have questions about closing costs on a Washington State home purchase or sale? As a Real Estate Broker serving Seattle, Camano Island, Edmonds, Woodinville, and the greater Eastside, I can walk you through a full net sheet so there are no surprises at closing. [Contact Matthew →]