Seattle Taxes Jumped 172% Since 2013 as Businesses Near 66% of City Revenue
Updated
Updated · MyNorthwest · Oct 5
Seattle Taxes Jumped 172% Since 2013 as Businesses Near 66% of City Revenue
3 articles · Updated · MyNorthwest · Oct 5
Summary
A new ECONorthwest analysis found Seattle tax collections rose 172% from 2013 to 2025, far outpacing 31% population growth, 23% employment growth and 50% inflation.
Businesses are projected to provide about 66% of city tax revenue in 2026, up from roughly 55% in 2016, after the 2021 payroll tax, 2025 social housing tax and a 2026 business-tax increase.
The report says that revenue is increasingly concentrated: fewer than 500 companies pay the payroll expense tax, about 220 pay the social housing tax, and 75% of payroll-tax revenue comes from 10 firms.
Seattle's tax mix has shifted sharply, with core taxes falling to 52% of revenue in 2026 from 83% in 2013, while voters approved $5.2 billion in levies and lid lifts over the period.
Business groups backing Mayor Katie Wilson's budget, which avoids new employer-tax hikes, warned that further increases could push companies to cut Seattle jobs, investment or expansion.