Seller tool

Washington Excise Tax (REET) Calculator

Washington's real estate excise tax is graduated — different brackets of the sale price are taxed at different rates. Local REET is added on top. Sellers pay this at closing.

Your sale

Sale price

$

Local REET (city / county)

Per WA DOR, all major Greater Seattle jurisdictions charge a 0.50% local REET (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, Mercer Island, Tacoma, Everett, etc.). Confirm with your escrow.

State REET — graduated brackets

Portion of sale price	Rate
Up to $525,000	1.10%
$525,000.01 – $1,525,000	1.28%
$1,525,000.01 – $3,025,000	2.75%
Over $3,025,000	3.00%

Estimate only. Tier thresholds reviewed every 4 years; rates and brackets above are current per WA DOR through 2026. The REET is paid to the state and local jurisdiction at closing — not to any agent. Confirm exact figures with your escrow company.

How REET works in Washington

Since January 1, 2020, Washington's real estate excise tax has been graduated — meaning different portions of your sale price are taxed at different rates, similar to federal income tax brackets. You don't pay one flat rate based on your total price; each tier of the sale gets its own rate.

The four state tiers

1.10% on the portion up to $525,000
1.28% on the portion from $525,000.01 to $1,525,000
2.75% on the portion from $1,525,000.01 to $3,025,000
3.00% on the portion above $3,025,000

So a $1,100,000 sale doesn't pay 1.28% on the whole thing — it pays 1.10% on the first $525K and 1.28% only on the $575K above that.

Local REET

Most King, Snohomish, and Pierce County jurisdictions add a 0.50% local REET on top of the state graduated rate. That's funded city/county capital projects (sidewalks, parks, street improvements). Your escrow company will quote the exact local rate for your property.

Common questions

Who pays REET?

By Washington custom, the seller pays REET at closing. It comes off the seller's net proceeds.

Are there exemptions?

Yes — gifts, transfers between spouses, foreclosures, and certain inheritance transfers can be exempt. Specific situations need to be discussed with your escrow officer or attorney.

Does the calculator count the buyer-agent commission as part of the sale price?

No. REET is calculated on the gross sale price (before deducting commissions and closing costs).

Want this in your full closing math?

Use the Net Proceeds Estimator to combine REET with mortgage payoff, listing fee, buyer-agent commission, and other costs into one take-home number.