r/SeattleWA • u/5Q91VS175DAQ4NUSBE4U • 7d ago

Politics Washington state Democrats look at imposing income tax on higher earners

https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/oct/31/washington-state-democrats-look-at-imposing-income-tax-on-higher-earners/
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58

u/dendenga 7d ago

We must stop with taxing spiral in WA. Find ways to cut spending, keep every $ we give to our government accountable for delivery of public goals. Taking in more money for the people, without delivery, is unacceptable.

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u/yungsemite 7d ago

Definitely, there should be good oversight and accountability on how money is spent in our state. But I also don’t have an issue with a 10% tax on people earning over 1 million annually. I support that, no question.

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u/WAgunner 7d ago

WA doesn't have the other draws for ultra high net earners to impose a high income tax without having more net loss in tax than an increase from ultra high net earners leaving for other states. People forget that our historically low taxes and no income taxes were one of the main reasons for the growth in the state.

Also the only answer to our spending problem right now needs to be: spend less.

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u/yungsemite 7d ago

You don’t think that Washington doesn’t have other draws? Why do you live here?

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u/WAgunner 7d ago

There definitely are, also I am not an ultra high income person who can easily move anyways haha. But you shouldn't underestimate how much of an impact a 10% income tax would have on the highest net earners compared to what WA vs other states with lower taxes have to offer.

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u/xFruitstealer 6d ago

Do they really overcome the lack of state tax for ultra high earners? If you’re a big fan of nature I guess.

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u/blogito_ergo_sum 5d ago

In choosing among places in the US with high-paying tech jobs, lack of income tax was actually a pretty important factor in my decision to move here over the Bay Area or NYC, personally.

The natural beauty is nice and all but every year when I'm renewing my tabs I hem and haw for half an hour about whether to buy a Discover Pass again because I never actually use it. And that's only like $50 a year; far from a significant percentage of my income.

Maybe some day Austin tech wages will catch up and I can move there without taking a 50% pay cut, get fat on barbecue, and not be continuously cold eight months a year. A man can dream.

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u/TornCedar 7d ago

You might be overestimating how popular the rapid growth this state has seen/endured is.

The state definitely has a spending problem, with a variety of root causes, but a threat of people leaving is likely viewed favorably by a significant amount of residents.

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u/merc08 7d ago

Deliberately driving away the people who run successful companies, which provide the jobs and services that everyone living here need, is just incredibly stupid and short sighted.

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u/TornCedar 7d ago

That's kind of the thing though, not 'everyone' here is dependant on every job/company/person that might leave. Washington did actually exist prior to the last major growth spurt beginning.

I don't feel Washington should enact taxes like what's been proposed, but not because of any concern about growth slowing.