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Residential Common Questions

Your taxes are based on more than just the assessed value of your property. Depending on where you live, the specific taxes levied in your area, and local real estate values, it's possible that while the appraised value of your home has decreased, your taxes have increased.


That's because about half of your property tax is determined by the levies that you and your neighbors have approved for such services as schools, parks, water districts, emergency medical service and fire/rescue, among others. If these levies stay the same or increase from the year before, your property taxes may increase. Similarly, if other valuations decrease more than yours, your taxes may also increase.


Only 17 cents of every property tax dollar supports the King County General Fund. The other 83 cents are divided between the State, Cities and other local jurisdictions.


There are 165 local taxing districts in King County, and breakdowns of the levies that affect you are included in your specific tax bill.


Please call us at 206-296-7300 if you have any questions.
You may contact us at 206-296-7300 or email at Assessor.info@kingcounty.gov. If you feel that we have made an error in the characteristics of your property, you can request that the data be reviewed or explained by appraiser and an Assessment Review can be initiated.

Petition for Property Tax Refund

Property owners may qualify for a refund due to a correction of a manifest error in description of the property relied on or used to estimate value for property assessment purposes. An example of a manifest error in description of a property could be the incorrect square footage of your house or lot.

If you think you qualify, you may download the form here (.PDF) and return with documentation or evidence to support your claim.

The maximum number of years for a refund is six years depending on the evidence submitted.

Under Washington state law, two types of property can be assessed and taxed:
  • Real property (real estate) which is land, improvements attached to the land (buildings, etc.) and improvements to the land (bulkheads, etc.) Click here for more details.
  • Personal property, meaning assets used in the operation of a business, such as machinery, equipment, signs, office furniture, fixtures and supplies, as well as materials used in the operation of a commercial, industrial or agricultural enterprise. Click here for more details.
Each year, our accredited appraisers assess your property at its full market value using one or all of three approaches: Market (comparable sales), Cost (reproduction or replacement cost, less depreciation) or Income (income or capitalization of economic rents).
An Official Property Value Notice is mailed each time we revalue your property. It shows both the previous and the new values.
Each February, you or your mortgage company (if you have an escrow account) will be mailed a tax bill for each property you own. It will show the amount of taxes due for that year. You can also click here, type in your account number (also known as the parcel number) and view the amount of taxes you owe.
State law requires that assessors value real and personal property at 100% of "true and fair" value which Washington State courts have interpreted as fair market value.
The amount you pay depends on the cost of state and local government, including schools, roads, parks, libraries, hospitals, city and county government, as well as your local taxing districts such as port district, fire districts and sewer districts. A large part of each property tax dollar goes to pay off construction bonds for school buildings and other public projects.
The state constitution and state legislature set statutory levy limits and voters approve excess levies to fund local projects or services, such as additional school levies, fire protection, sewage treatment, etc. For detailed information on levy limits, click here.
You may contact us at 206-296-7300 or email at Assessor.info@kingcounty.gov to address questions you have about your property. You may also find sales of similar properties by clicking on the following link: https://info.kingcounty.gov/assessor/esales/Residential.aspx
If you wish to appeal the new appraised value of your property, you must file a petition with the King County Board of Equalization (BOE) no later than July 1 of the assessment year or within 60 days from the mailing date on the front of the Official Property Value Notice, whichever is later. A separate appeal must be filed each year to protect your appeal rights, as past or pending appeals should not be assumed to affect the value on your most recent notice. For information and/or petition forms, please visit the BOE's website at https://kingcounty.gov/independent/board-of-appeals.aspx or call the BOE at (206) 477-3400. Additional assistance can be provided by contacting the King County Property Tax Advisory at 206-477-1060.

Requests to change an account mailing address must be received in writing or by email. An address change can be made:

  • By sending email to kingcountytreasurer@kingcounty.gov
  • By completing the Name and Address Update box on your property tax payment stub at the time you are remitting payment
  • By clicking here to print a Name and Address Change Request Form. Mail form to:
    • King County Treasury
    • Name and Address Change
    • 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710
    • Seattle, WA 98104

    • The request should include your tax parcel/account number 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.
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