Every relocating household runs the same math: what do I give up in housing cost, and what do I get back in taxes? Here is the Eastside version with sources and dates. Updated October 2026.
The short version
- Washington has no personal income tax. For a household moving from California, Oregon, New York or Minnesota, that is the single largest line in the comparison.
- Property tax on the Eastside runs roughly 0.75 to 1.0 percent of assessed value per year. Bellevue is the lowest of the big cities at about $7.43 per $1,000; Redmond is about $8.40; Seattle is about $9.91 (King County Assessor, 2026).
- Washington taxes long-term capital gains on stock above an inflation-indexed threshold (about $270,000 in 2024) at 7 percent, with an extra 2.9 percent on gains above $1 million from 2025. Real estate sales are exempt. If you are selling RSUs for a down payment, plan around it.
- Sales tax is a little over 10 percent in every Eastside city. Car tabs include a Sound Transit excise tax. Tolls apply on the 520 bridge and the 405 express toll lanes.
Property tax by city (2026)
| City | Levy rate per $1,000 | Effective rate | Tax on a $1.5M home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | $7.43 | about 0.74% | about $11,100 |
| Redmond | $8.40 | about 0.84% | about $12,600 |
| Kirkland, Sammamish, Bothell | varies by levy code | about 0.8 to 1.0% | about $12,000 to $15,000 |
| Seattle | $9.91 | about 0.99% | about $14,900 |
Source: King County Assessor 2025 to 2026 city tax comparison reports for Bellevue, Redmond and Seattle. Rates differ inside a city by school and fire district, so the only exact number is the one for the parcel. We pull it for any home you are considering. Countywide, 2026 property taxes total $8.4 billion on $920 billion of assessed value, and voter-approved levies, not rising values, drive most increases.
Income and capital gains
- No state income tax on wages, bonuses or RSU vesting. There is no city income tax on the Eastside either.
- Capital gains excise tax: 7 percent on net long-term gains from stock and similar assets above an annual exemption ($250,000 base, indexed; $270,000 for 2024), plus 2.9 percent on the portion above $1 million, retroactive to January 1, 2025. Gains from selling real estate are exempt, as are retirement accounts.
- What that means for a tech relocator: vesting is not taxed by the state; selling appreciated shares above the threshold is. A lot of households time a down-payment sale across two calendar years.
- Estate tax: Washington has its own estate tax; the 2025 law raised the exemption to $3 million. Relevant if you are moving a large portfolio.
Everyday costs
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Sales tax | Combined state and local rate is a little over 10 percent in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish and Bothell. Groceries are exempt. |
| Car tabs | Annual registration plus the Sound Transit (RTA) motor vehicle excise tax inside the transit district, which covers the whole Eastside. Expect a few hundred dollars a year on a newer car. No emissions test is required. |
| Tolls | SR 520 bridge is tolled both directions; 405 express toll lanes are optional. A Good To Go account lowers the rate. |
| Utilities | Puget Sound Energy for electricity and gas in all five cities; water and sewer through each city or district. Electricity rates are below the national average because of hydro. |
| Insurance | Homeowner premiums are moderate; earthquake coverage is a separate policy. Flood is rarely required on the Eastside outside mapped river zones in Bothell. |
A quick comparison for a California household
A household earning $400,000 pays tens of thousands of dollars a year in California state income tax and nothing in Washington. Property tax on a $1.5 million Eastside home is roughly $11,000 to $15,000 a year; California’s Prop 13 keeps long-held homes lower but a new purchase at the same price is taxed at a similar rate. Sales tax is comparable. The net for most tech households is a large annual saving that offsets a higher purchase price. We will run your specific numbers with a lender.
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington have a state income tax?
No. Washington has no personal income tax on wages, bonuses or RSU vesting, and no city income tax on the Eastside. It does have a 7 percent tax on long-term capital gains from stock above an inflation-indexed threshold (about $270,000 in 2024), plus 2.9 percent on gains above $1 million from 2025. Real estate sales are exempt.
How much is property tax in Bellevue?
About $7.43 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2026, or roughly 0.74 percent, the lowest levy rate among the large Eastside cities according to the King County Assessor. On a $1.5 million home that is about $11,100 a year. Rates vary by school and fire district inside the city.
Is property tax higher in Seattle or on the Eastside?
Seattle. The 2026 Seattle levy rate is about $9.91 per $1,000 (about 0.99 percent) versus about $7.43 in Bellevue and $8.40 in Redmond, per the King County Assessor. Seattle’s lower median home value narrows the dollar gap.
Is selling my house taxed in Washington?
Not by the state capital gains tax; real estate sales are exempt. Federal rules still apply, including the primary-residence exclusion. Washington does charge a real estate excise tax on the sale price, paid by the seller at closing.
What is the sales tax on the Eastside?
A little over 10 percent combined in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish and Bothell. Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt.
Talk it through
Want the numbers for a specific home and salary? We will pull the parcel levy rate and have a lender run the full payment. Book a 30-minute call with Justin Cicero, Managing Broker, call or text 425-686-9449, or use the contact page.
This is general information, not legal, tax, lending or employment advice. Figures are approximate, dated where shown, and change; confirm current numbers before relying on them. Property tax figures: King County Assessor 2025 to 2026 city tax comparison reports. Capital gains and estate tax: Washington 2025 legislative session summaries.