Tag Archives: state income tax

Here is how your voice can be heard on state-income tax proposal

February 4, 2026

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

One of the most controversial bills of this year’s legislative session – to create a state income tax – was introduced just yesterday in the state Senate.

Senate Bill 6346 would impose a 9.9% tax on your taxable income, with the first $1 million exempt. If passed, earnings would be taxed beginning January 1, 2028, with taxes due in April 2029. An identical bill has been introduced in the House (HB 2724) but Democrat leaders agree the Senate will consider its bill first.

Democrats have scheduled a public hearing on their income-tax bill this Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. To sign up to testify on this bill or submit written testimony, please go here. To submit written comments to legislators on this proposal, go here. I encourage you to share your thoughts on this proposal.

The bill’s proponents are trying to sell it as a tax on millionaires.  My fellow Republicans and I view it as an income tax, believing Democrats would eventually lower the income threshold so that EVERYONE in Washington would pay it.

It’s important to point out this bill would hit married people filing jointly who make a combined income of $1 million the same way it hits individuals. In fact, the $1 million standard deduction would be set only in state law, not the state constitution. That means future legislators could lower or eliminate the deduction through a simple majority vote to change a single sentence. No vote of the people would be required.

SB 6346 would override Initiative 2111, the measure approved by the Legislature (with bipartisan support) in 2024 that banned state and local income taxes in Washington.

The bill contains a “necessity clause,” which would prevent a referendum, but can specify an effective date in the future. Here is the bottom line: Democrats do not want Washington citizens to overturn this new tax by a referendum. With the “necessity clause,” it can only be overturned by an initiative (or if the Supreme Court finds the bill to be unconstitutional, which I believe it is).

I strongly oppose SB 6346. Over the years, Washingtonians have repeatedly shown that they oppose a state income tax. The Legislature needs to respect their wishes.

If you have questions about these or other issues facing the Legislature this year, please contact my office by email at curtis.king@leg.wa.gov or phone at 360-786-7626.

Thank you for the privilege and opportunity to serve as your 14th District state senator.

Sincerely,

Thank you for reading this e-newsletter — I hope you will stay connected and continue receiving my updates from the Legislature and the state Capitol.

To stop receiving my updates, simply follow these steps: 1) Click here, enter the e-mail address that received the newsletter, click “submit,” and 2) when a new page appears click “delete my account.” You will receive a confirmation e-mail. You may also stop receiving my update by sending an e-mail to my office (Curtis.King@leg.wa.gov).

If you have questions or problems with this subscription, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

For more news, click here to visit my legislative webpage. It’s my privilege to serve the people of Washington’s 14th Legislative District.

 

King opposes Senate passage of bill creating state income tax on capital gains

A Democratic proposal that would create a state income tax on capital gains was passed by the Senate 25-24 Saturday, despite opposition by 14th District Sen. Curtis King, other Republicans and three Democrats.

Senate Bill 5096 now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

“Creating any type of state income tax is unconstitutional and unnecessary, and it could force some Washington residents to move out of the state,” said King, R-Yakima, “Our state’s long-term revenue situation looks promising, which means we don’t need to create a state income tax. ”

Washington voters have rejected a state income-tax proposal 10 times over the past 85 years, most recently in 2010 when 64 percent of voters said no to Initiative 1098.

“Most people in Washington historically haven’t wanted a state income tax, and a recent statewide Elway

Poll revealed that only 41 percent of respondents favor one,” said King. “It’s too bad that most Senate Democrats ignored the people and passed this bill anyway.”

If SB 5096 is signed into law, it likely would result in a lawsuit that eventually would be decided by the state Supreme Court.

“In the past, our Supreme Court has rejected state income tax proposals,” said King. “Democrats are eager to put this issue before the current Supreme Court. The IRS has determined that taxes on investment income to be an income tax, so I don’t think this proposal would survive a legal challenge.”

Before the proposal was approved, the Senate passed an amendment removing a so-called “emergency clause” from the bill. Had the emergency clause remained in the bill, it would have prevented citizens from filing a referendum that would bring SB 5096 before state voters to approve or reject.