What is Seattle's combined sales tax rate?

Seattle's combined retail sales tax is 10.35%. That stacks the Washington state rate of 6.5% with King County and City of Seattle local rates totaling 3.85%. The tool defaults to this combined rate, which you can adjust if it changes.

Are groceries taxed in Seattle?

Unprepared groceries are exempt from Washington sales tax, as are prescription drugs. Prepared food, restaurant meals, candy, and soft drinks are taxable. Tick the exempt box only for qualifying grocery or prescription purchases.

Why is Washington sales tax so high?

Washington has no state income tax, so it leans heavily on sales tax for revenue. Combined with local King County and Seattle add-ons, the result is one of the higher combined retail rates in the United States at 10.35%.

Does sales tax apply to services?

Most professional services are not subject to retail sales tax in Washington, but many consumer services such as repair, installation, and personal services are. This tool calculates retail sales tax on taxable goods; check specific service rules separately.

How do I back out tax from a total that already includes it?

Divide the tax-inclusive total by 1 plus the rate. For the 10.35% rate, divide the total by 1.1035 to get the pre-tax price, then subtract to find the tax. This tool works from the pre-tax amount forward.

Seattle Combined Sales Tax Calculator

Seattle carries one of the highest combined retail sales tax rates in the country at 10.35%, stacking Washington state, King County, and city levies. This calculator applies that combined rate to any purchase and respects Washington’s grocery and prescription exemptions, so you can see the exact tax and total before you check out.

How it works

Sales tax is a flat percentage of the taxable amount:

tax   = taxable purchase × 10.35%
total = purchase + tax

Unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are exempt, so when you mark a purchase exempt the tool charges no tax. The 10.35% combined rate breaks down as 6.5% Washington state plus 3.85% in King County and Seattle local rates. To back tax out of a tax-inclusive total, divide by 1.1035 instead.

Example and tips

A $1,200 laptop in Seattle incurs $124.20 in sales tax for a $1,324.20 total. The same $1,200 spent on unprepared groceries is exempt and costs exactly $1,200. Remember the distinction: a prepared deli sandwich or a soda is taxable, while the raw ingredients to make the same lunch at home are not. When budgeting big purchases, factor the full 10.35% — it adds up quickly on cars, electronics, and furniture.