By state

Short-term rental taxes in Washington

What you charge guests, who remits it, and what you have to hold.

50+ cities. 7 countries. Run remotely. See how Corzly manages properties
Five stacked layers of short-term rental rules. From the bottom: state, county, city, special districts, and HOA and CCRs. The state layer is marked, the one this page covers.

Step one of five

Washington is the layer that never changes.

Everything on this page applies right across Washington, wherever the property sits. That makes it the one part you can settle before you know the address.

The four layers above it are the ones that move: county, city, special purpose districts, then private rules like an HOA or a neighbourhood covenant that appear in no government database at all. Two properties on opposite sides of the same street can owe different totals.

Run your address for the other four

What Washington charges statewide

These apply across Washington. Counties and cities add their own on top, which is where the totals diverge.

TaxRateApplies toConfidence
Washington State Retail Sales TaxWashington Department of Revenue 6.5% Entire rental charge including any cleaning or mandatory fees. High Source
Washington State Special Lodging TaxWashington Department of Revenue 3.9% Entire rental charge including cleaning fees. High Source

Drawn from the Washington jurisdictions researched so far. These are the statewide figures only. Open a city below, or run your own address, for the county, city and district layers that stack on top.

Does the platform collect it for you

Marketplace facilitators must collect and remit state sales tax, state lodging tax, and all local sales and lodging taxes on facilitated sales.

ChannelWhat you chargeWho remits the state layerConfidence
AirbnbPlatform is merchant of record Nothing, the platform collects all of it The platform High Source
VrboYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source
Booking.comYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source
ExpediaYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source
GoogleYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source
WhimstayYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source
DirectYou are merchant of record 7.9% (state sales tax plus special lodging tax). Local taxes also apply. You do High Source

Still yours to charge: Any untaxed bookings not processed through a registered marketplace.

Questions owners ask about Washington

Does Airbnb collect Washington state lodging taxes for me?

Yes, Airbnb collects and remits all state and local sales and lodging taxes in Washington for bookings processed through its platform. You do not need to add these taxes to your Airbnb price or remit them for Airbnb bookings.

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What is the state lodging tax rate for short-term rentals in Washington?

Short-term rentals of 29 days or less are subject to 6.5% Washington state sales tax and an additional 3.9% state special lodging tax. Local lodging taxes may apply separately.

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How is a short-term rental defined in Washington?

A short-term rental in Washington is a rental of less than 30 consecutive days at one location. Stays of 30 days or more are considered long-term and exempt from sales and lodging taxes, usually requiring a written lease.

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Do I need a state business license to operate a short-term rental in Washington?

Yes, all short-term rental operators must register for a Washington State Business License and remit state taxes. Some cities may also require a city business license.

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Are cleaning fees taxable in Washington?

Yes, cleaning fees and other mandatory charges are included in the taxable amount for state sales and lodging tax purposes.

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What are the filing requirements for state lodging taxes in Washington?

Returns are generally due by the 25th of the month following the end of each filing period. Filings are monthly, quarterly, or annual depending on your business size. Zero returns are required even if no tax is collected for a period.

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Are long-term stays exempt from lodging taxes in Washington?

Yes, rentals of 30 days or more are exempt from state sales and lodging taxes if the stay meets requirements for a long-term lease or agreement.

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Do platforms like Vrbo, Expedia, and Booking.com collect lodging taxes for me in Washington?

These platforms are required to collect and remit all state and local taxes if they process the payment as merchant of record. In most cases, you as the operator must collect and remit the full taxes for bookings through these channels unless the platform notifies you otherwise.

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Which local taxes might apply on top of the state lodging tax?

Cities and counties often add their own lodging taxes, which can range from 2% to 7% or more, especially in cities with hotels, convention centers, or high tourism activity.

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What happens if I file my Washington lodging tax return late?

Late filings are subject to penalties between $5 and up to 29% of the tax due, increasing the longer the return is overdue.

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Already researched

Nothing in Washington yet

No Washington jurisdiction has been run. Start one and the page publishes itself, usually within a few minutes.

Run the first one

After the research

Setting the rates takes an afternoon. Running the property never stops.

The tax setup on this page is a one-time job, and you can do it yourself. Owners call us about everything underneath it.

The work How often
Channel tax settingsRates entered on each platform, direct included Once
Pricing against the marketRates moved as comps, events and pace change Daily
Guest messagingEnquiries, check-ins, problems at 2am 24/7
Listings and distributionContent, photos and settings across every channel Ongoing
Turnovers and coordinationCleans, maintenance, the gaps between stays Every checkout
Reviews and reputationFollow-up that earns the five star, disputes that do not Every stay

We run 300+ properties across 50+ cities and 7 countries, remotely, without standing in any of them. A property in Washington is no harder for us to take on than one down the road from our last partner.

See how Corzly manages properties

We do not register, file or remit for you, and we are not tax professionals.

Rates and rules change. Confirm with the taxing authority before you rely on any figure here.