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Washington: Taxes, Laws and Population

The facts that distinguish Washington from other states, each with its source and the date it applies to.

Facts

Top personal income tax rate (tax year 2026)
No income tax on wages No tax on wages. A capital gains excise tax (7%, 9% on gains over $1 million) applies; payroll-based WA Cares is separate.
Source: Tax Foundation compilation of state law, rates as of January 1, 2026, as of February 2026 (unverified)
State sales tax rate
6.5%
Source: Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (July 6, 2026), as of July 2026 (unverified)
Right-to-work law
No
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, as of December 2023
Permitless (constitutional) carry
No
Source: Wikipedia list of permitless carry states (compiler; not a state statute page), as of October 2025 (unverified)
Voter ID at the polls
Non-photo ID accepted Non-strict non-photo; most voters vote by mail.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, Voter ID Laws, as of September 2026
Private school choice program
No
Source: Program names from public sources; confirm on the state's School Choice page and EdChoice, as of November 2026 (unverified)
Governor's party
Democratic
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, State Partisan Composition, as of October 2026
Legislature
Democratic (both chambers)
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, State Partisan Composition, as of October 2026

Where a source line says "unverified", the figure comes from a compiler or news report and has not been checked against the state's own page. Party control is as of October 6, 2026, before the November 2026 elections.

Related

Sources: Tax Foundation: state income and sales tax rates, National Conference of State Legislatures: right to work, voter ID, partisan composition, State revenue departments (Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia). Updated November 8, 2026.