Your hub for Washington taxes: no state income tax, plus free calculators for take-home pay, self-employment tax, quarterly estimates, and salary conversion.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: IRS, BLS, Washington State Department of Revenue
In Washington, the only taxes withheld from a typical paycheck are federal income tax and FICA (Social Security and Medicare), because there is no broad state income tax on wages. Washington has no state income tax on wages or salaries. However, the state enacted a 7% tax on long-term capital gains exceeding $270,000 in 2022 (upheld by the state Supreme Court). Washington has one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation.
| Tax | 2026 Rate / Detail |
|---|---|
| Washington State Income Tax | No state income tax |
| Washington State Sales Tax (base) | 6.5% |
| Federal Income Tax | 10% to 37% (progressive brackets) |
| Social Security | 6.2% on first $176,100 |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages (plus 0.9% above $200,000) |
| Federal Standard Deduction (Single / MFJ) | $15,000 / $30,000 |
| Minimum Wage | $16.66 / hour |
| State Tax Authority | Washington State Department of Revenue |
No. Washington is one of the nine states with no broad state income tax on wages. Washington has no state income tax on wages or salaries. However, the state enacted a 7% tax on long-term capital gains exceeding $270,000 in 2022 (upheld by the state Supreme Court). Washington has one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation.
Because Washington has no state income tax, the taxes withheld from a typical paycheck are federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $176,100), and Medicare (1.45%). Use the take-home pay calculator to estimate your net pay.
Washington has no state income tax, so self-employment income is not subject to state income tax. Self-employed workers still owe federal self-employment tax (15.3%) and federal income tax. See the self-employment tax calculator above.
Yes, for federal taxes. Even without state income tax, self-employed Washington residents who expect to owe federal tax generally make quarterly estimated payments to the IRS. The quarterly tax calculator estimates the amounts and due dates.
The Washington statewide base sales tax rate is 6.5%. Local jurisdictions may add their own rates.