Seattle's
CPA & EA experts.
Expert tax services for Seattle tech workers, businesses, and individuals. Licensed CPAs & EAs serving Capitol Hill, Bellevue, and the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle's CPA Managed Firm.
Washington has no state income tax — but Seattle's tech economy means RSU vesting, equity compensation, and the new Washington capital gains tax create complexity that many CPAs get wrong.
handled right.
Seattle tax,
No state income tax, but a capital gains tax (7%, or 9.9% above $1M) and B&O tax on revenue — we know every layer of the Seattle tax stack.
$1.6M+
Saved for Seattle clients last year
520+
Active Seattle clients
Tech equity specialists.
RSUs, ESPPs, ISOs.
RSU vesting, ESPP, option exercises, and the WA capital gains tax — we know Seattle's tech compensation landscape.
WA Capital Gains Tax.
7% above $278K, 9.9% above $1M.
We plan around it.
Washington's capital gains tax on long-term gains above the $278,000 standard deduction — rising to 9.9% above $1M — changed the planning landscape for Seattle's high earners.
Services in
Seattle
Why a Seattle CPA matters.
- Washington's capital gains tax applies to long-term gains above the annual standard deduction ($278,000 for 2025) at 7%, plus an extra 2.9% — 9.9% total — on gains over $1M. RSU vesting and stock sales trigger this
- Business & Occupation (B&O) tax applies to gross receipts — service businesses pay 1.5% with no deductions for expenses
- Seattle's tech workers often have complex RSU, ESPP, and option situations that require careful timing and reporting
- ESPP (employee stock purchase plan) shares have nuanced tax treatment — qualifying vs. disqualifying dispositions matter significantly
- Remote workers from Seattle employed by CA companies may owe California income tax on CA-sourced income
Seattle-area tax rates
37%
0%
7% / 9.9%
1.5%
Varies
15.3%
Seattle
clients.
Seattle
tax questions.
Washington levies a capital gains tax on long-term gains above an annual standard deduction ($278,000 for 2025, indexed for inflation), effective since 2022. The rate is 7%, and under SB 5813 an additional 2.9% applies to gains above $1 million — 9.9% in total — starting with tax year 2025. It applies to gains from stocks, bonds, and business interests, but not real estate. For Seattle's tech workers with large RSU positions or stock sales, this adds a significant state-level obligation. We plan RSU vesting and asset sales around these thresholds.
Washington's Business & Occupation (B&O) tax is a gross receipts tax — meaning it applies to your revenue with no deductions for expenses, cost of goods, or wages. Service businesses pay 1.5% of gross receipts; retailers pay 0.471%. Seattle also imposes its own business license tax. We calculate and file all B&O returns and advise on structuring to minimize exposure.
RSUs are taxed as ordinary income at vesting — your employer withholds federal and FICA taxes. Washington has no income tax, so there's no additional state tax on the vest. However, if you later sell the shares and realize long-term gains above the annual standard deduction ($278,000 for 2025, adjusted yearly for inflation), Washington's capital gains tax applies at 7% — rising to 9.9% on gains above $1 million. Timing your sales around these thresholds matters.
Potentially yes. California taxes income "sourced" to California — and if your employer is in California but your work is done in Washington, the sourcing rules determine how much (if any) income CA can tax. It depends on your employment agreement, where clients are located, and CA's specific sourcing rules. We analyze your situation and file the appropriate returns.
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locations.
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about taxes?
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