Seattle Property Tax Quick Facts
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- King County
- Assessed By
- King County Assessor
- Appeal Deadline
- July 1
- County Tax Rate
- ~1.03%
- Shared with Seattle
How to Appeal Property Taxes in Seattle
Check your assessment
Enter your Seattle address for a free 60-second check. We compare your assessed value against comparable sales and neighborhood data.
Get your evidence packet
If over-assessed, pay $45 for a complete appeal packet with comparable sales, equity analysis, and pre-filled forms for King County.
File your appeal
Submit your appeal to King County Assessor before July 1. Our filing guide walks you through every step.
About the Seattle Property Market
Seattle is a city located in King County, Washington. Every property inside the Seattle city limits is assessed by King County Assessor, which applies Washington property tax rules uniformly across the county.
Because Seattle property values are set at the county level, the $650,000 county median home value and 1.03% effective tax rate apply to homes throughout the city. Homeowners who believe their Seattle home is over-assessed have the right to file a appeal directly with King County Assessor before the July 1 deadline.
Washington allows the assessor to defend or adjust the assessed value during a appeal, so Seattle homeowners should build a strong evidence-based case before filing — which is exactly what ProtestMax generates for $45.
Seattle Property Market Context
Seattle sits within Washington's broader property tax landscape as a city, and local assessments reflect both state rules and county-level mass appraisal practices.
Washington market character
Washington has no state income tax, and property taxes carry significant weight at around 0.9% effective. The state reassesses annually in most counties, and Seattle-metro markets have produced aggressive assessed-value jumps.
How Washington handles appeals
Washington homeowners appeal to the county Board of Equalization, then the state Board of Tax Appeals. The state is protest-friendly and evidence-driven, and BOE petitions are accessible to self-filers.
When to file in Seattle
Petitions must be filed by July 1 or within 60 days of notice mailing, whichever is later. Notices typically mail in May or June.
Common Seattle Property Types
Seattle homeowners typically file protests across these property categories:
Single-family homes
The most common residential type and the dominant protest category.
Condominiums
Common in denser parts of the city and near employment centers.
Townhouses
Attached-home neighborhoods in newer subdivisions.
Small multi-family
Duplexes and 2-4 unit buildings assessed as income property.
Commercial
Retail, office, and small commercial along major corridors.
ProtestMax supports all of the above property types in Seattle. Each appealpacket is tailored to the property's classification and uses comparable sales from Seattle and surrounding King County neighborhoods.