“Tax transparency” is in the mail

Courtesy notices break down distribution of taxes on each property

Property owners in King County will soon be receiving notices in the mail that clearly show where their property tax dollar goes. The courtesy notices are the result of the “Transparency in Taxation” initiative led by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn to inform owners who do not currently receive such statements.

“It is a fundamental duty of government to inform citizens where their taxes are going,” said Councilmember Dunn. “This ordinance is a huge improvement for King County’s outreach to its constituents.”

More than 290,000 property owners—45 percent of those in King County—authorize their mortgage companies to make their half-yearly property tax payments out of their escrow accounts, so they never see a detailed breakdown of the levies they pay to their taxing district, many of which were approved by voters.

“A better informed citizenry is a better served citizenry,” said Councilmember Dunn. “The people need to see the big picture of what they are paying in property taxes.”

Under Dunn’s leadership, the King County Council last year directed the County Treasurer to send those detailed breakdowns to all property owners who do not currently receive them. The courtesy notices detail how taxes for that property are distributed to the state, local schools, local cities, the County, the Port of Seattle, and local fire, sewer and water districts.

“Washington State has an incredibly complicated tax collection system,” said Dunn. “King County collects taxes for hundreds of local taxing districts. Property owners can now have the convenience of paying their taxes through their mortgage and have a better understanding of all the services they are paying for.”

Recipients should be aware these courtesy notices are not bills. The statements are clearly marked, “THIS IS NOT A PROPERTY TAX BILL. PLEASE DO NO SEND PAYMENT.”


King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn represents District 9 including the cities of Bellevue, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, Kent, Maple Valley, Newcastle, and Renton.