Home › Washington
Washington Property Tax GuideAppeal and Lower Your Washington Property Tax.
Washington has no income tax, so the state funds itself disproportionately through property tax. King County alone reassesses every single property annually, which means every single year is an appeal year for Seattle area homeowners. The key: file before July 1 and use the comparable sales evidence your county assessor didn't.
How the Washington Appeal Process Works
- Review your assessment notice, mailed in May through August depending on county.
- Pull recent comparable sales from the county assessor's portal (King, Pierce, Snohomish all offer search tools).
- Complete Form REV 64 0075 (or your county's local petition form).
- File with the County BOE by July 1 or within 60 days of notice, whichever is later.
- Attend the BOE hearing, approximately 15 to 30 minutes, informal, present your comps.
- Appeal to the WA State Board of Tax Appeals within 30 days if you disagree.
Major Washington Counties, Where to File
- King County (Seattle): kingcounty.gov/boe. Online petition portal.
- Pierce County (Tacoma): piercecountywa.gov/boe.
- Snohomish County: snohomishcountywa.gov/boe.
- Spokane County: spokanecounty.org/boe.
- Clark County (Vancouver): clark.wa.gov/assessor.
- Thurston County (Olympia): thurstoncountywa.gov/boe.
- Kitsap County: kitsap.gov/boe.
King County's annual revaluation is your friend. Unlike states that reassess every few years, King County reprices every property every year. That makes it easier to prove the assessor is wrong, you only need to show this year's sales data contradicts this year's assessment. Check your King Parcel Viewer for recent comps on your block.
When You Probably Qualify for a Reduction
- Your assessment increased more than the neighborhood's sale prices
- Comparable sales within the past 12 months are below your assessed value
- Your parcel record has errors (square footage, view rating, basement finish)
- Your home has unrepaired damage, aging systems, or deferred maintenance
- You bought the home below the current assessed value within the last year
Get a Washington BOE Package in 48 Hours
We pull your assessor record, build comparable sales, and produce a filing ready REV 64 0075 petition with evidence for $50 flat.
Start My WA Appeal →Washington Property Tax Appeal FAQ
Will appealing raise my assessment?
The County BOE can increase, decrease, or affirm. Increases are rare in homeowner appeals, but if your evidence is weak and you claim a value well below comparable sales, the board can raise your assessment. Present realistic numbers.
Can I file after July 1?
If your notice arrived less than 60 days ago, yes, the 60 day clock runs from the mailing date. After that, the deadline is firm in most counties.
Does Washington freeze value after an appeal?
No. Washington reassesses annually, so a successful appeal applies only to that year. You may need to re appeal the following year if the assessor returns to an inflated value.
Is the BTA free?
The informal division of the State BTA has no filing fee for residential property. The formal division has a small fee. Most homeowners choose informal.