US EditionGov. Ferguson Signs Washington’s 9.9% Income Tax on Earnings Over $1 Million
The tax is expected to generate $3–4 billion annually, funding education, health care, and tax relief for working families, while opponents plan legal and ballot challenges.
- On Monday, March 30, 2026, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6346 into law, establishing a 9.9% income tax on annual earnings exceeding $1 million.
- Supporters argued the measure addresses Washington's regressive tax system, while opponents contend it violates the Washington State Constitution because courts have historically classified income as "property".
- The tax takes effect January 1, 2028, affecting an estimated 21,000 filers and generating roughly $3 billion to $4 billion annually; Ferguson said it ensures residents pay their "fair share."
- Opponents, including the Citizen Action Defense Fund, plan to challenge the law's constitutionality in court, while the Washington State Republican Party aims to gather more than 300,000 signatures for a November repeal.
- Former Attorney General Rob McKenna anticipates the legal battle will reach the Washington State Supreme Court, as political groups debate whether to pursue a repeal ballot initiative this year or in 2027.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Washington Becomes Latest Democrat-Led State to Tax Millionaires, Sparking Legal Fight
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday signed legislation creating the state’s first income tax in nearly a century, imposing a 9.9 percent levy on households earning more than $1 million a year and drawing immediate legal and political challenges from Republicans and business groups.
Slog AM: Millionaire’s Tax Is Law, Insurrectionists Say Police Used Excessive Force on Jan. 6, Bob Dylan’s Weird Patreon Project Smells Like AI
The Stranger's morning news roundup. by Nathalie Graham Big Day for Taxing Millionaires: Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the millionaire's tax into law on Monday. The bill will put an annual 9.9 percent tax on annual, earned income over $1 million. When the state starts collecting the tax in 2029, it should bring in $3 billion a year. "We did it everybody,” Ferguson said. Meanwhile, the tax's enemies are already sharpening their pitchforks. Anti-Tax Av…
Washington Rolls Out a Millionaires Tax
Washington, long known for skipping an income tax, just broke with that tradition —at least for its wealthiest residents. Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday signed into law a new 9.9% levy on annual income over $1 million, set to kick in come 2028. The money is earmarked for child...
'Millionaire tax' signed in Washington. Here's what to know
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Tens of thousands of millionaires in Washington state must pay income tax for the first time. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed the "millionaire tax" into law on Monday. It's a nearly 10% tax on anyone making more than $1 million per year. The tax money would be targeted for schools, healthcare and other [...]
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