Because Washington has no personal income tax, there is no annual Washington state tax refund in the way most other states issue one. The closest equivalent for everyday residents is the Working Families Tax Credit, a cash payment of up to $1,330 that offsets sales tax paid during the year.1Washington Department of Revenue. Working Families Tax Credit Application Window Opens Feb 1 Beyond that, refunds are available in narrower situations: overpaid capital gains tax, overpaid estate tax, and sales tax paid by enrolled tribal members on qualifying purchases.
Washington funds itself through sales tax, a business and occupation tax, property taxes, and excise taxes rather than income tax.2Washington Department of Revenue. Income Tax There is no state return to file each spring and no paycheck withholding to reconcile. If you came here looking for a refund of state income tax, that is why you cannot find one.
Working Families Tax Credit
The Working Families Tax Credit is a refundable payment the Department of Revenue sends out by direct deposit or check.3Washington State Legislature. RCW 82.08.0206 Working Families Tax Credit It is not a refund of tax withheld from your wages. It is a cash credit designed to return some of the sales tax that lower-income households pay through the year.
Who Qualifies
For the 2025 tax year (the one you apply for in 2026), you must meet all of these:
- You lived in Washington for at least 183 days during the tax year.4Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Eligibility
- You filed a federal income tax return for the same year.5Cornell Law Institute. Washington Administrative Code 458-20-285 Working Families Tax Credit
- You are between 25 and 64, or you have a qualifying child (in which case the age limits do not apply).
- Your earned income is below the limit for your filing status and family size.
The 2025 income limits track the federal Earned Income Tax Credit thresholds:4Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Eligibility
- No qualifying children: $19,104 single or head of household; $26,214 married filing jointly
- One qualifying child: $50,434 or $57,554
- Two qualifying children: $57,310 or $64,430
- Three or more qualifying children: $61,555 or $68,675
ITIN filers can apply the same way as Social Security Number filers. If you are still waiting for the IRS to issue your ITIN, submit the application anyway and the Department of Revenue will hold it until your number arrives.6Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Applying With an ITIN
How Much You Get
The maximum credit for the 2025 tax year, based on family size:1Washington Department of Revenue. Working Families Tax Credit Application Window Opens Feb 1
- No children: up to $335
- One child: up to $660
- Two children: up to $995
- Three or more children: up to $1,330
Your actual amount phases down as your income climbs toward the upper limit for your household size. If you qualify but the calculation comes out below $50, the Department of Revenue rounds the payment up to $50.7Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Frequently Asked Questions
How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 tax year opened February 1, 2026, and stay open through December 31, 2029.1Washington Department of Revenue. Working Families Tax Credit Application Window Opens Feb 1 Applying earlier means getting paid earlier. File online through My DOR in English or Spanish, or mail a paper application.8Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Apply
Have these ready before you start:
- A copy of your filed federal tax return
- Social Security Numbers or ITINs and dates of birth for you, your spouse, and any qualifying children
- Your Washington driver’s license or state ID number, if you have one
- Your bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
Do not submit the application twice. If you catch a mistake after sending it in, call the Department of Revenue at 360-763-7300 to request a correction. Duplicate submissions slow everything down.8Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Apply
Processing takes up to 90 days.9Washington State Working Families Tax Credit. Get Help You can check progress through the “Where’s My Refund” tool on the Working Families Tax Credit site.
Capital Gains Tax Refunds
Washington taxes long-term capital gains at 7% on amounts above a standard deduction, which is $278,000 for the 2025 tax year.10Washington Department of Revenue. Capital Gains Tax Gains below that threshold owe nothing.
Two situations create refunds. The first is a straightforward overpayment: you estimated your liability, paid by the deadline, and the final return showed less owed. The second involves the credit for taxes paid to another state. If you paid capital gains or income tax to another jurisdiction on the same gains Washington is taxing, you can claim a dollar-for-dollar credit against your Washington liability, up to the full amount owed to Washington.11Washington Department of Revenue. Interim Statement Regarding the Capital Gains Excise Tax and Calculation of Credit for Taxes Paid to Another Taxing Jurisdiction Unused credits do not carry back or forward.
Capital gains returns and payments for the 2025 tax year are due May 1, 2026.12Washington Department of Revenue. Capital Gains Excise Tax Returns Due Date Moved to May 1, 2026 A filing extension requested by that date pushes the return to October 15, 2026, but any tax owed is still due May 1. Overpayments are refunded after you file.
Estate Tax Refunds
Washington’s estate tax applies to estates with a gross value above $3,076,000 for deaths occurring in 2026.13Washington Department of Revenue. Estate Tax Tables Executors sometimes overpay because they send in estimated payments before the final valuation is settled, or because an amended return later lowers the taxable amount.
The executor can request the overpayment back with interest, provided the request lands within the statutory window.14Washington Department of Revenue. Estate Tax FAQ That window closes four years after the beginning of the calendar year in which the payment was made. Payments made at any point during 2025, for example, must have a refund request submitted by December 31, 2029. Amended estate tax returns go through My DOR, with the “Amended Return” box checked and supporting documentation attached.
Sales Tax Refunds for Tribal Members
Enrolled tribal members and their spouses can get back Washington sales tax paid on items purchased in or delivered to Indian Country, or used for tribal fishing, hunting, and gathering.15Washington Department of Revenue. Sales Tax Refund Request for Tribes and Tribal Members/Citizens The paperwork is heavier than the Working Families application because each purchase is documented individually.
You file a separate refund form for each seller. Each form needs legible copies of receipts showing the sales tax paid, proof the items were purchased in or delivered to Indian Country, and tribal identification such as a tribal ID card, treaty fishing card, or spousal relationship documentation. Purchases older than four years from the start of the calendar year in which you file are out of reach. Processing takes up to 90 business days.
If Your Refund Is Denied
A denial from the Department of Revenue, on any of these refunds, can be challenged first through the department’s informal Rule 100 review.16Washington Department of Revenue. Reviews and Appeals That process is handled inside the agency and can include hearings, small claims procedures, and settlement talks.
If Rule 100 does not resolve things, the next step is the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals. Most appeals must be filed within 30 days of the mailing date on the denial, and the Board cannot extend that deadline for any reason.17Washington State Board of Tax Appeals. Deadlines When the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline rolls to the next business day. Miss it and the right to appeal is gone.