Statements |
| 1 |
Why haven't I received my statement? |
| If a mortgage company pays your taxes, the payment information is forwarded to the company per their request. If a mortgage company does not pay your taxes and you have not received a statement by March 1, a copy may be obtained by calling the Treasury Operations, Property Tax Office at (206) 296-0923 or requesting the statement from this website. Please confirm that we have your correct mailing address on file before requesting a new statement. |
| 2 |
My mortgage company should pay my taxes. What shall I do? |
| It is always the responsibility of the taxpayer to ensure that taxes are paid in a timely manner. Visit our Property Tax website or dial (206) 296-0923 to confirm that your taxes are current. Banks typically make these payments through a processing company, and the processing companies typically submit them to us during the final week that they are due. Contact your bank if your payment is still not showing as paid by ten days past the tax due dates. |
| 3 |
My mortgage company receives my tax information. How do I get a copy of my tax statement? |
| An informational statement may be obtained by contacting Treasury Operations at (206) 296-0923 or by requesting the statement from this web site after looking up your parcel or account information. |
| 4 |
My mortgage company receives my tax information. How do I find out where my taxes go? |
| A pie chart showing the distribution of your specific property taxes is displayed on our website with your other account information. |
| 5 |
I did not receive a statement telling me the second half payment was due and now I have late penalty charges. Why did I not get a statement? |
| Consistent with Washington State law, current year King County property tax statements are mailed once a year on February 14th. Other than that one mailing, we do not mail additional statements unless we receive a request to do so. It is unfortunate that you were not aware that there would be no statement sent for the October 31 deadline, however, it is the taxpayer's responsibility to be aware of the need to pay taxes and to seek information such as deadlines, amounts to pay, etc. |
| 6 |
How do I change my mailing address or the name on my statement? |
Requests to change an account mailing address must be made in writing or by email. An address change can be made:
- In person at the address listed below
- By sending an email to e-tax@kingcounty.gov
- By completing the box on the back of the grey return envelope and mailing it to us, or
- By mailing a written request to:
King County Treasury Operations
ATTN: Name & Address Change
500 Fourth Avenue, Room 600
Seattle, WA 98104The request should include your tax parcel/account number, your previous name and address (if known), and your new mailing name and address. Please sign and date a written 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.
For your convenience, you may fill out and print the attached PDF document. |
| Payments |
| 1 |
How do I find my real property parcel/account number? |
| 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 Assessment's public information section at (206) 296-7300. You may also go to the County iMap to look up your parcel using the parcel viewer. After obtaining the number, enter it on the Property Tax Information web site. |
| 2 |
Where can I mail my property tax payment? |
To make a payment by mail, detach remittance stub and mail to:King County Treasury
500 Fourth Avenue, Room 600
Seattle, WA 98104 It is not necessary to have a tax statement to mail in your payment. If you decide to mail in your payment without a tax statement, please write your account number on the check and make it payable to King County Treasury. |
| 3 |
Where can I pay property taxes in person? |
- King County Treasury Operations, Room 600, 500 Fourth Ave., Seattle. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Monday - Friday, excluding legal holidays.
- If you pay in-person (not online) at the downtown Seattle office with a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover) you will be charged a 2.35% processing fee. As an example, a taxpayer making a tax payment of $2,022.36 will incur a fee of $50.56 (.0235 x $2,022.36 = $50.56) for a total payment of $2,072.92. The County does not receive any part of this fee.
Payments by check only may be made in person at the following locations:
- Blackriver Community Service Center
- Cottage Lake Community Service Center
- Covington Community Service Center
- Northshore Community Service Center
- Sammamish Community Service Center
- Vashon Maury Island Community Service Center
- Kent Regional Justice Center
Go to the Community Service Center (CSC) web page for information on addresses and hours of operation. |
| 4 |
Can payments be made over the phone? |
| No, unfortunately our staff are not able to do this. However, they can talk you through the online payment process if you need assistance beyond the demo. |
| 5 |
What are the payment deadlines and late payment penalties? |
| First half taxes must be paid or postmarked (U.S. Postal Service postmark) by April 30 or the full year tax becomes delinquent on May 1. Interest is 1 percent per month on the full amount due (from month of delinquency to month of payment). Penalty is 3 percent (current year tax only) on amount unpaid on June 1, and 8 percent (current year tax only) on amount unpaid on Dec. 1. Second half taxes must be paid or postmarked (U.S. Postal Service postmark) by Oct. 31 or they become delinquent on Nov. 1. (RCW 84.56.020). |
| 6 |
Do I need a tax statement to make my payment? |
| If you know the correct amount to pay, it is not necessary to have a tax statement accompany your payment. Make the check payable to the King County Treasury and mail it to 500 4th Avenue, Room 600, Seattle WA 98104. Write your tax account/parcel number on the check and make sure it is postmarked by the due date. |
| 7 |
Do I get a notice from Treasury if my payment does not post? |
| Taxpayers are charged with the knowledge that their property is taxable every year, of the due date of those taxes, that there are sufficient funds available in their account to cover the tax amount, and that their payment was successfully processed. Taxpayers should validate through their bank that the payment has cleared. |
| 8 |
How do I find my personal property (business or mobile home) tax account number? |
| Your personal property tax account number is located on your Personal Property Tax Statement and Assessor's Personal Property Tax Affidavit or Valuation Notice. You may also obtain your business personal property or mobile home tax account number by calling (206) 296-5126 or Treasury Operations at (206) 296-4290. |
| 9 |
I want to protest the tax I owe. How can I do so? |
| If you believe this tax is unlawful or excessive and wish to preserve your right to seek a refund in court, you must, at the time you pay the tax, provide a separate written statement (1) saying that you are paying the tax or a portion thereof under protest, and (2) stating all of the reasons why you believe the tax paid under protest is unlawful or excessive. RCW 84.68.020 |
| 10 |
I won't be able to pay my first half tax by the first half due date. What will happen then? |
| On the day following the first half due date, interest at 1 percent per month will be charged against the full year tax owing. In addition to the interest, on June 1, a 3 percent penalty will be charged against the full year tax owing and on Dec. 1, another 8 percent penalty will be charged against the full year tax. Although interest continues to accrue as long as the tax remains delinquent, the penalty is assessed against the current year tax and for that year will not rise above a total of 11 percent (3 percent after May 31 and an additional 8 percent after Nov. 30). (RCW 84.56.020) These interest and penalty amounts apply to both real and personal property, however the full year personal property amounts plus interest and/or penalties and collection costs must be paid if the first-half payment is not paid/postmarked by April 30. You may still pay the first half payment of a real property tax plus interest and penalties up through the Oct. 31st, second-half tax-payment deadline. |
| 11 |
I have paid the first half tax but won't be able to pay the second half by October 31. What will happen then? |
| On November 1, interest at 1 percent per month will be charged against the unpaid second half tax amount. In addition to the interest, on December 1, an 8 percent penalty will be charged against the unpaid second half tax amount. (RCW 84.56.020). (External link) Although interest continues to accrue as long as the tax remains delinquent, the penalty is assessed against the current year tax and will not change. These interest and penalty charges apply to both real and personal property. |
| 12 |
I have had some hardships lately. Can an extension be granted for more time to pay taxes? |
| All counties are governed by the laws of the State of Washington. Extensions cannot be granted due to hardship or any other extenuating circumstance. |
| 13 |
What are omit (omitted) taxes? |
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 the following information on the payment coupon you have an "omit":
|
|
In this example the omit was billed for the first time in February 2011. 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, 2012 and the balance by Oct. 31, 2012. If the payment were 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. |
|
| 14 |
May I pay next year's property taxes in the current year? |
| Washington State law (RCW 84.56.010) specifies the collection dates for property taxes and does not allow county treasurers to collect property taxes until the year that they are due. |
| 15 |
Can I submit payment on a parcel that does not have my name on it? |
| Yes. You need the parcel number to make payment online or by check. If you are paying by check, include parcel number on the check. |
| Other |
| 1 |
Where can I find additional information regarding property taxes? |
| Additional information about property taxes can be found at the following links:
|
| 2 |
Are the items listed as “Other Charges’ on the statement and the website tax deductible? |
| Depending on the location of the property other charges may include: Surface Water Management Charge, Drainage (City of Seattle), Fire Protection Fee, King Conservation District (CD) Fee, and the Noxious Weed Fee. You may wish to consult with your tax counsel on the federal tax consequence of any non-ad valorem tax charge listed on your statement or the web page. |
| 3 |
My taxes are overpaid. How do I obtain a refund? |
- Only when more than the full year amount is paid are property taxes considered overpaid.
- Two payments made in April are not an overpayment. The second payment is accepted and the taxes are considered paid in full for the entire year. (Nothing further would be due in October.)
- If a third "half" amount is received, this would cause an account to be overpaid and subject to refund.
- Our office will mail an overpayment (refund) notice to the party that made the last payment. Normally it takes about two weeks to receive a refund check after the overpayment notice has been returned to our office. During the peak payment periods in April and October, this process can take up to four weeks.
- A written request (please include the property tax account/parcel number) may be sent in lieu of the overpayment notice by fax to (206) 296-7345 or regular mail to:
King County Treasury
Attn: Property Tax Refund
500 Fourth Avenue, Room 600
Seattle, WA 98104
Since we require a signature, email refund requests cannot be accepted. |
