Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Property taxes are paid in two installments. The first half is due on April 30 of each year, and the second half is due on October 31. If one of these dates falls on a weekend or King County holiday, taxes are due the next business day.

• Real property is residential or commercial land and any structure(s) on that land
• Personal property is any asset used in conducting business
• Mobile homes and floating homes are taxed as personal property if they are not associated with a real property account

To obtain a tax statement, you must first know your tax account number. The number can be found on your tax statement or assessment value notice. For real property, you can find this information by address by using the Assessor's eReal Property tool.

If you know your account number, you can use our safe and secure online eCommerce system to obtain information.

1. Enter your tax account number and click Search. In the first box, you will see the taxpayer's name and mailing address associated with the tax account number.
2. Scroll down to Tax Statement and expand the screen by clicking the "+" (plus) symbol.
3. Click the Request Tax Statement button.
• If the button is not visible, it means that the option to request a statement is not available.

You must first know your tax account number. The number can be found on your tax statement or assessment value notice. For real property, you can find this information by address by using the Assessor's eReal Property tool.

If you know your account number, you can use our safe and secure online eCommerce system to obtain information.

1. Enter your tax account number and click Search. In the first box, you will see the taxpayer's name and mailing address associated with the tax account number under Billing Details.
2. Add your payment(s) to the cart and proceed to the online checkout, or use the amount shown to pay with a check.
   • If you send a check rather than pay online, add the account number in the memo line of your check. No tax statement is needed with a mailed check.
3. To view the various charges on your current or prior year tax bill, click the "+" (plus) symbol next to Tax Year Details.
   • The next screen will display detailed tax information for the current year and the past three years.

The easiest way to confirm if your payment has successfully processed is to confirm the payment was processed at your bank or financial institution. If your bank shows funds pulled from your account, then that means the payment has been credited to the King County property tax account.

You can check your account payment history in our eCommerce system by entering your parcel/account number, then navigating to Receipts and clicking on the "+" (plus) symbol to expand the screen.

Payment history will reflect the payments received by Treasury Operations in the last three years.

• Mailed tax payments or online bill payments through your bank typically take up to two weeks to process. If you submitted a payment close to the property tax due date, please expect upwards of three weeks to process the payment and for the payment to show on your property tax account.
• Payments submitted through King County's eCommerce system will typically post and process within five business days. If you completed a transaction and no payment is debited from your bank account after five business days, please check your email (including your junk folder) or contact our customer service desk.
• Payments submitted by your mortgage lender typically take up to five business days to process. Lenders usually pay us in bulk close to the deadline.

Payments still being processed will not show up at your bank and they will not show in Treasury's tax system.

• King County Home and Property Information
• King County Department of Assessments
• Washington State Department of Revenue

Depending on the location of your property, other charges may include a surface water management charge, City of Seattle drainage charge, fire protection fee, King Conservation District (KCD) fee, and the noxious weed fee. Consult an income tax professional on the federal tax consequences of any non-ad valorem charge listed on your property tax statement.

Property taxes are billed for a full year. Half can be paid in April, the other half in October. If two payments are made in April, this is not considered an overpayment - the taxes will now be paid in full.

However, if you pay again in October, once the payment is accepted in our system, this will trigger an overpayment and a refund will be issued. During peak times, a refund can take up to six weeks to be issued.

You can mail your refund request to:

King County Treasury
ATTN: Property Tax Refund
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710
Seattle, WA 98104

If you prefer, you can email your request to TaxOverpayment@kingcounty.gov or fax to 206-296-7345.

No matter which method you choose, be sure to include your property tax parcel number and mailing address, along with a phone number and/or email where we can contact you if we have questions or need clarification about your request.

If a mortgage lender pays your property taxes, the payment information is forwarded to the company per their request. If a lender does not pay your taxes and you have not received a statement by March 1, a copy may be obtained by calling Treasury Operations at 206-263-2890 or by requesting the statement online. Please confirm that we have your correct mailing address on file before requesting a new statement.

If you know your parcel or account information, a statement may be obtained by contacting Treasury Operations at 206-263-2890 or by requesting a statement via our eCommerce system.

If you know your parcel or account number, a pie chart showing the distribution of your specific property taxes can be found on the Assessor's website.

It is always the responsibility of the property owner to make sure that their property taxes are paid in a timely manner. Use our eCommerce system or call 206-263-2890 to confirm that your taxes are current. Mortgage companies typically make these payments through a processor, and the processors typically submit them to us during the final week that they are due. Contact your mortgage company if your payment is still not showing as paid by ten days past the tax due date.

Under state law, current year King County property tax statements are mailed once a year in mid-February. Other than that one mailing, we do not mail additional statements ahead of the April and October payment deadlines unless we receive a request to do so. It is the taxpayer's responsibility to be aware of the need to pay taxes and to seek information about deadlines and amounts to pay. You can sign up for email or text reminders about property tax due dates by using the link on our homepage.

Requests to change an account mailing address must be received in one of the following three ways:

• Email KingCountyTreasurer@kingcounty.gov. Be sure to include your parcel or account number in the email.
• By completing the Name and Address Update box on your property tax payment stub at the time you are sending payment.
• By downloading a Name and Address Change Request Form and mailing the completed form to:

  King County Treasury
  RE: Name and Address Change
  201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710
  Seattle, WA 98104

  Your request should include your tax parcel or account number and your new name and/or mailing address. Please sign and date the request. We do not require copies of deeds or other legal documents since you are only changing the property tax mailing information and this does not affect ownership.

Your tax account or parcel number is located on your property tax statement or Assessor's Valuation Change Notice. You can also access it by calling the Department of Assessments at 206-296-7300. You may also use eReal Property Search to look up your parcel information by entering your address.

Your personal property tax account number is located on your Personal Property Tax Statement, the Assessor's e-listing documents, or Assessor's valuation notice. You may also obtain your business personal property or mobile home tax account number by calling the Department of Assessments at 206-296-5126 (select option 3) or Treasury Operations at 206-263-2844.

By state law, on the day following the first half due date of April 30, monthly late charges are calculated based on the full year amount of tax owed. Late charges continue to accrue monthly as long as the tax remains delinquent. You may still pay the first-half payment of real or personal property taxes plus applicable late charges prior to the October 31 second-half payment deadline.

• Delinquent first half real property taxes paid before October 31 can be viewed or paid online. To determine the exact amount due on your tax account, use our eCommerce tool.
• Delinquent first half personal property taxes paid before October 31 cannot be paid online and must be mailed to King County Treasury. Call for amount due at 206-263-2844. To view or pay the full year grand total amount of your delinquent taxes, use our eCommerce tool.

Payment plans are available through the county. Click here for details.

On November 1, monthly late charges will be calculated against the unpaid second half tax amount until paid. Late charge calculations are determined by state law. Late charges apply to both real and personal property taxes.

To make a payment by mail, detach the remittance stub and mail to:

King County Treasury
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710
Seattle, WA 98104

It is not necessary to have a tax statement to mail in your payment. If you mail in your payment without a tax statement, please write your account number on the check and make it payable to King County Treasury.

You can pay property taxes in person at the King County Customer Service Center, 201 S. Jackson St., second floor, in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. The CSC is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on King County holidays.

You can also use our secure drop box located at the corner of Second Avenue and South Jackson Street in Pioneer Square. The drop box is marked "Treasury" and is located inside the security gates. The gates are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed on King County holidays.

If you use the drop box, please include your statement coupon or clearly write your tax account number on the check or money order. Do not deposit cash in the drop box.

No. Taxpayers are responsible for knowing that their property is taxable every year, the due date of those taxes, that there are sufficient funds available in their bank account to cover the tax amount, and that their payment was successfully processed. Taxpayers should validate through their bank that the payment has cleared.

Yes. If you know your parcel or account number, use this link to pay online. You can pay by credit or debit card, or by electronic check. Note that a service fee applies.

If you do not know your parcel number, use this link to look it up before using our eCommerce tool.

Please see our Online Payments FAQ below for more detailed information about paying your property taxes online.

No. If you know the correct amount to pay, it is not necessary to have a tax statement accompany your payment. Make your check payable to King County Treasury and mail it to 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98104. Write your tax account/parcel number on the check and make sure it is postmarked by the due date.

If you believe your tax is unlawful or excessive and wish to preserve your right to seek a refund in court, by state law at the time you pay your taxes you must provide a separate written statement saying that you are paying the tax or portion thereof under protest, and stating all of the reasons why you believe the tax paid under protest is unlawful or excessive.

No, unfortunately our staff are not able to process payments by phone. However, they can talk you through the online payment process if you need assistance.

First half taxes must be paid or postmarked by April 30 or the full year tax becomes delinquent on May 1. Second half taxes must be paid or postmarked by October 31 or they become delinquent on November 1. Late charges are calculated on a monthly basis as described in state law. If your taxes are delinquent, the exact amount due on your real property can be found using our eCommerce tool. You will need your tax account number.

For personal property taxes, follow the real property instructions above. If you wish to pay only the first half of your taxes, which is allowed any time before the second half due date, contact Treasury Operations at 206-263-2844 for payment amount and instructions.

By state law, extensions cannot be granted due to hardship or any other extenuating circumstances. Learn about our payment plan options to see if you may be eligible.

Yes, payment plans are available for past due prior year taxes. Note that specific conditions and limitations apply.

• There is no reduction of late charges under a payment plan agreement. State law does not allow for forgiveness or reduction of delinquent charges for taxpayers participating in delinquent year payment plans. When a payment plan is calculated, the projected payoff date (no greater than 12 months) is identified which must include all projected interest charges during that time period and must be factored into the monthly payment.
• After a formal written agreement is established between the taxpayer and King County Treasury, an outside vendor administers your monthly payments. Taxpayers participating in a payment program must pay the vendor a one-time $100 setup fee for each payment plan. Taxpayers are also charged a monthly processing fee for each payment.
• If you are three years or more delinquent, your property may be subject to tax foreclosure action. Contact King County Treasury's Foreclosure Unit at 206-263-2649 for information.

If you think you may be eligible to set up a payment plan, contact King County Treasury at PaymentPlans@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-2649. Click here to learn more about payment plan options.

If you are a senior citizen or a person with a disability, you may qualify for a reduction in your property taxes. Visit TaxRelief.kingcounty.gov or call the Assessor’s Office at 206-296-3920.

Omit taxes are for improvements to the property to which value should have been assessed in prior years but wasn't (for example, a new house). Omitted assessments are applicable for up to three prior years. Taxes are based on the assessed value and levy rate appropriate for each prior year.

If your tax statement has information like the following on payment coupon you have an omit.

In this example, the omit was billed for the first time in February 2023. Taxpayers are given an extra year to pay the omitted taxes. In this example, you are allowed to pay the first half omitted tax amount by April 30, 2024 and the balance by October 31, 2024. If the payment was made in this manner, there would not be any delinquency charges. If you want to pay earlier you may do so. Remember this payment delay only applies to the omit year. The regular (non-omitted) taxes must be paid as they become due in April and October of the current year.

No. State law specifies the collection dates for property taxes and does not allow county treasurers to collect property taxes until the year that they are due.

Yes, however you need the parcel number to make payment online or by check or money order. If you are paying by check or money order, include the parcel number on the document.

First, you need to know your real estate or personal property tax account number.

• If you don't know your real property tax account or parcel number, use the eReal Property Search tool to find it.
• If you don't know your personal property tax account number, please call 206-263-2844.

If you need to look up a parcel number after you have begun selecting parcels for payment, our system will not remember what you had already selected for payment, so you will need to start over.

To pay your entire year of real property tax, simply check both boxes for the two current half-year payments and these will be added to your cart.

Your payment is effective as of the date and time indicated in the confirmation email that is sent when your payment is made. A payment will normally clear your checking account or post to your credit card within three business days. However, it may take up to two weeks for your payment to be reflected in our records.

Use our online payment service to pay half-year taxes, full-year taxes, or delinquent taxes. Online payments made after midnight on the due date are late and will include delinquency charges as allowed by state law.

Yes. To pay delinquent taxes, simply check the box(es) for the year(s) you wish to pay and these will be added to your cart. State law allows you to select which delinquent years you wish to pay, but you must pay the full amount due for each year selected.

No. Since additional foreclosure costs apply, you must call 206-263-2649 to obtain this amount and to pay the total due.

An eCheck is an online version of a physical check that is deducted directly from your checking account. When you make your online tax payment, you authorize the bank to electronically withdraw funds from your account for the amount of your tax payment plus a small convenience fee. In order to create an eCheck, you will be asked for specific numbers that appear on the bottom of your physical check.

• The Routing Transit Number (RTN) is the nine-digit number that identifies your bank. It is the first group of numbers at the bottom of your check. Do not enter spaces or dashes.
• Your Account Number appears as the second group of numbers to the right of the RTN. Do not enter spaces or dashes.
• Be careful not to include your check number, which is the third group of numbers located to the right of your Account Number.

Note: If you enter the wrong account number in error and your eCheck does not successfully clear your bank, you will be assessed a $35 Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) charge and any applicable delinquency charges.

We accept the following types of checks for online (eCheck) payments:

• Personal checks
• Business checks

We do not accept the following types of checks for online payments:

• Convenience checks drawn on credit card accounts
• Cashier's checks or treasurer's checks
• Travelers checks
• Money orders
• Home equity line of credit (HELOC) checks
• Real estate line of credit (RELOC) checks
• Investment or brokerage account checks

If you have questions about payment types accepted, call us at 206-263-2890 or email e-tax@kingcounty.gov.

King County accepts both credit and debit cards for online property tax payments.

When paying by credit card, you may pay with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express (AmEx), or Discover. All credit card payments are processed immediately for the amount of your transaction, plus a transaction fee. The fee is 2.35% of the total amount charged, with a minimum fee of $2.

When paying by debit card, you may pay with Visa only. All debit card payments are processed immediately for the amount of your transaction, plus a flat transaction fee of $3.50.

Both of these transaction fees are charged by our payment processor. King County does not receive any part of the transaction fee and state law does not allow King County to waive this fee.

A CVV is a code printed on your credit or debit card that is used to discourage fraud.

On Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards, the CVV is three digits printed on the back of the card in or near the signature strip.

On American Express (AmEx) cards, the CVV is four digits, and printed on the front of the card.

State law does not allow King County to absorb processing costs or fees associated with electronic payments involving property taxes. These fees are collected by the payment processor, and King County does not receive any portion of these fees.

The fee for processing an eCheck is a flat $0.55. The fee for processing credit card payments is 2.35% of the transaction amount, with a minimum charge of $2. For debit cards, the processing fee is a flat $3.50.

There is no fee for check payments made in person or by mail. In-person credit or debit card payments are still subject to the fees listed above.

It may take up to a week for your property tax payment to be reflected in our records after we receive it. However, even after we show your account in "paid" status on our website, if your bank rejects the transaction it can be reversed off our system once we are notified. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to confirm successful posting with their bank.

King County is committed to protecting your information so that it is not lost, misused, or changed without your permission. We use industry standard technology and other safeguards to protect financial and other sensitive data from being stolen or tampered with.

King County's electronic commerce systems are designed so that financial data remains primarily with financial institutions, while county agencies focus on service to our customers. Wherever possible, financial information is not seen or collected by the agency itself. Instead, designated banks route the data, transfer the funds, and confirm payment to both you and the agency.

When you communicate with us by email, you should be aware that email is not necessarily secure against interception. If your communication with us includes sensitive information, like your bank account number or Social Security number, you should contact us by phone or by postal mail.

You can look up your property's assessed value online using the Assessor's eReal Property tool. For further information about your property assessment, visit the Department of Assessments webpage or call 206-296-7300.

The amount of your property tax bill is based upon the costs of your state and local government. This includes the operating costs of your schools, your city and county, and of taxing districts such as hospital, fire, and sewer districts. The assessed value of your property is multiplied by the tax rate necessary in your levy area to produce your fair share of the total levied tax by these jurisdictions.

If you believe a mistake has been made in valuing your property, contact the Department of Assessments at 206-296-7300 or visit the Assessor's website. You may also file a valuation appeal by contacting the King County Board of Appeals and Equalization at 206-477-3400. Additional information about appeals is also available from the Assessor's Office.

If your property is damaged or destroyed, you may be eligible for a reduction in your assessed value and taxes. For details, visit the Assessor's Office webpage or call 206-263-2332.

Yes, in some cases. If your annual income does not exceed the threshold set in state law and you own and reside in your home, including mobile homes, you may be entitled to a property tax reduction. You must be at least 61 years of age or, if under 61 years, retired because of a disability and unable to work. Property taxes may be deferred under certain conditions. For details, visit the Assessor's Office webpage or call 206-296-3920.

Please contact the Department of Assessments at 206-296-3920 to obtain information about your application.

The Senior Citizen/Disabled Persons Exemption applies only to one acre of land and one residence. If you received two statements, one of the following circumstances likely apply to you:

• The property for which you are being taxed consists of more than one acre.
• The property for which you are being taxed is a multi-family unit or has an additional home. Only the unit in which the owner resides qualifies for the exemption.

If neither of the above circumstances apply, or you need more information, please contact the Department of Assessments at 206-296-3920 for assistance.

Yes. If you improve your single family residence by adding new rooms, decks, patios, or other improvements, you may apply for a three-year exemption from taxes on the value of the physical improvement. However, you must apply for the exemption before construction is complete. For details, visit the Department of Assessments webpage or call 206-263-2338.

You will need to obtain a Tax Certificate for Mobile Home Movement, also called a move permit, from Treasury Operations. Our office will certify that any property taxes due on the mobile home have been paid and issue an orange decal, valid for 15 days, that must be displayed on the mobile home while it is being moved. It is a violation of state law to move a mobile home without a validated tax certificate and decal.

When all property taxes have been paid, Treasury Operations will issue a Sale Half Sheet to document the sale. When a mobile home is moved out of King County, an advance tax for the following year must be paid. The Sale Half Sheet form and the current mobile home title can be taken to the state Department of Licensing to pay sales tax and transfer the title into the new owner's name. If the title has been previously eliminated, a Manufactured Home Application must be completed in order to move the mobile home to another real property site or a mobile home park. For more information, visit the state Department of Licensing website or call 206-477-4000.

More information from the state Department of Revenue

You are required to complete a Mobile Home Excise Tax Affidavit to document the sale and pay excise tax on the sale price. The full year's taxes and all delinquent taxes must be paid and certified as paid on the Excise Tax Affidavit. This is done at the Treasury Operations office. The Excise Tax Affidavit is then taken to the King County Recorder's Office to be recorded. Once recorded, your copy of the Excise Tax Affidavit can be taken to the state Department of Licensing to change the ownership on the title. All of these offices are located at the King County Customer Service Center in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood.

You can obtain a Mobile Home Excise Tax Affidavit at:

King County Treasury Operations
201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710
Seattle, WA 98104

For questions, call Treasury Operations at 206-263-2844.

More information from the state Department of Revenue

As of March 1, 1990, owners of manufactured or mobile homes have had an option in the titling process of their home. Owners may eliminate the separate title and opt to record their home with their land as real property. To apply, the property owner must obtain a Manufactured Home Application. For more information, visit the state Department of Licensing website or call 206-477-4000.