Snohomish County tax rates depend on where in the county you are. Combined sales tax runs from about 9.1% in Darrington to 10.6% in Edmonds, and the typical 2026 property tax levy is $8.1949 per $1,000 of assessed value, which comes to roughly $4,917 on a $600,000 home before any exemptions.
Sales Tax by City
Every retail sale starts with Washington’s 6.5% state sales tax. Cities and the county layer local taxes on top to fund transit, criminal justice, and other services, so the total you pay at the register depends on where the transaction happens.
The Washington Department of Revenue lists these combined rates for the first quarter of 2026:
- Edmonds: 10.6%
- Bothell (Snohomish County portion): 10.5%
- Brier: 10.5%
- Arlington: 9.3%
- Darrington: 9.1%
Cities closer to Seattle carry higher local add-ons, largely because of regional transit levies. A purchase in Edmonds costs about 1.5 percentage points more in tax than the same purchase in Darrington. Rates are updated quarterly, so check before a large purchase.1Washington Department of Revenue. Local Sales and Use Tax Rate Table
Property Tax Rate for 2026
Snohomish County’s typical combined levy rate for 2026 is $8.1949 per $1,000 of assessed value.2Snohomish County. 2026 Property Tax Information Your actual rate will differ depending on which taxing districts overlap your parcel.
Washington uses a budget-based system, which trips up people who expect a fixed rate. Taxing districts do not pick a rate and apply it to every property. Each district decides how much total revenue it needs, and the county divides that amount across all assessed property inside the district’s boundaries. The rate you see on your bill is the result of that math, expressed as dollars per $1,000 of assessed value.
The Constitutional Cap
The Washington Constitution limits combined regular property tax levies on any property to 1% of true and fair market value, or $10 per $1,000 of assessed value.3Justia Law. Washington Constitution Article VII – Revenue and Taxation When overlapping districts push the total above that ceiling, the county scales back individual levies proportionally. Voter-approved excess levies and bonds sit outside the cap, which is why some property owners see effective rates above $10 per $1,000.
The Annual Growth Limit
A separate statutory rule restricts how fast a district’s total collection can grow year to year. A district’s regular levy generally cannot exceed its highest levy from the past three years multiplied by a “limit factor” of 101%, plus revenue from new construction. For districts with 10,000 or more residents, the limit factor is the lesser of 101% or 100% plus inflation, so in low-inflation years the cap drops below 1%.4Washington State Legislature. Washington Revised Code Chapter 84.55 – Limitations Upon Regular Property Taxes Your individual bill can still rise if your home’s assessed value climbs faster than the district average, even when the district’s overall collection barely moves.
Why Two Similar Homes Pay Different Amounts
Two houses with identical market values can carry noticeably different tax bills if they sit in different combinations of taxing districts. Your parcel might fall within a fire district, library district, hospital district, or park district that your neighbor’s does not. Each of those entities gets its own slice of the levy.
School districts are the single largest component on most bills. Beyond their regular levy, school districts can ask voters to approve excess levies for maintenance, operations, and construction, and school levies need only a simple majority to pass.5Washington Department of Revenue. Part 2 – Excess Levies and General Obligation Bonds Most other taxing districts need a 60% supermajority for an excess levy. Either way, these voter-approved amounts are temporary, tied to specific projects, and sit outside the $10-per-$1,000 cap. If your area recently passed a school bond or a fire station upgrade, that increase shows up as a separate line item.
Exemptions and Deferral
Washington offers meaningful property tax breaks for older residents, people with disabilities, and certain veterans. Applications go through the Snohomish County Assessor.
Senior and Disability Exemption
If you’re 61 or older by December 31 of the filing year, or you’ve retired due to a disability, you may qualify for a partial or full exemption from regular and excess levies. The exemption has three tiers, each with its own income ceiling and level of relief. You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence.6Washington State Legislature. Washington Revised Code 84.36.381 – Residences Property Tax Exemptions Qualifications
Income thresholds are pegged to Snohomish County’s median household income rather than fixed dollar amounts. The lowest tier (the most generous relief) caps at 50% of county median, the middle tier at 60%, and the highest tier at 70%.7Washington State Legislature. Washington Revised Code 84.36.383 – Exemptions Qualifications Income Thresholds Those figures are recalculated every three years, so ask the Assessor for current dollar amounts.
Disabled Veterans
Veterans with a combined service-connected disability rating of 80% or higher from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or a total disability rating for a service-connected condition, qualify for the same exemption program without meeting the age requirement.6Washington State Legislature. Washington Revised Code 84.36.381 – Residences Property Tax Exemptions Qualifications
Deferral for Those Who Don’t Qualify
If you’re 60 or older, or disabled, but don’t qualify for the exemption, Washington offers a deferral instead. The state effectively lends you the money to cover your property taxes, and the deferred amount accrues 5% simple interest. You repay when you sell the home, move out, or pass away, and you need enough equity in the property to secure the state’s interest.8Washington Department of Revenue. Property Tax Exemptions and Deferrals
Payment Deadlines and Late Penalties
Property tax payments are split in two. The first half is due April 30, and the second half is due October 31.9Snohomish County. General Tax Information You can also pay the full year by the April deadline.
Payments can be made online, by mail, or at drop-box locations. Online payments carry third-party processing fees: 2.35% for credit cards, $3.50 for debit cards, or $1.50 for electronic checks.10Snohomish County. Tax Payment Options On a $2,500 half-year payment, the credit card fee runs about $59, so the eCheck option saves real money. Payments take up to five business days to post.
Missing a deadline triggers different consequences depending on your property type. For residential properties with four or fewer units, there’s no flat penalty, but interest accrues at 9% per year from the date of delinquency. For commercial properties and larger residential buildings, the county adds a 3% penalty on June 1 and an additional 8% penalty on December 1 of the year the tax was due, plus 12% annual interest.11Washington State Legislature. Washington Revised Code 84.56.020 – Property Tax Due Dates and Delinquency Even at the residential rate, a $5,000 delinquent balance accrues $450 of interest in a year.
Appealing Your Assessed Value
If your assessed value looks too high, you can challenge it before the Snohomish County Board of Equalization. Most homeowners skip this step, and it’s often where the biggest savings hide.
File your appeal within 60 calendar days of the date on your Notice of Value, or by July 1 of the assessment year, whichever is later. Electronic petitions are accepted through the county website up to 4:00 PM on the filing deadline. Evidence must be submitted at least 21 business days before the hearing and needs to meet a “clear, cogent, and convincing” standard, meaning recent comparable sales, a professional appraisal, or documentation of property defects. Residential hearings run about 20 minutes and default to Zoom, though you can request in-person. The Board mails its decision within 45 days after the hearing.12Snohomish County. Appeal Process Guide
If You’re Selling Property
Washington’s capital gains tax applies to long-term gains on assets like stocks, bonds, and some real estate transactions. Gains from the sale of a primary residence that are excluded under the federal Section 121 exclusion (up to $250,000 for single filers, $500,000 for married couples filing jointly) are not taxed. Gains on investment property, second homes, or amounts above the federal exclusion can trigger it.
The state imposes 7% on the first $1 million of taxable capital gains and 9.9% on amounts above $1 million. A standard deduction, adjusted annually for inflation, shelters a portion of gains before the tax applies.13Washington Department of Revenue. New Tiered Rates for Washington’s Capital Gains Tax For 2025, that deduction was $278,000. The 2026 figure will be published after the inflation adjustment is calculated.