Local Tax Burden Comparisons from DC Report

Every year the District of Columbia government issues a report comparing tax rates and tax burdens in the most populous city of every state. These reports provide a good opportunity to see how Seattle ranks with other major cities across the country. As we continue to look at issues related to affordability in Seattle, we must keep in mind an individual’s or a family’s tax burden—even if the tax structure is set at the state level.

The latest report looks at 2012 data. Overall, the report placed Seattle 45^th out of the 51 cities reviewed (meaning the tax burden here is relatively low compared to the other cities).

A look at the detailed analysis reconfirms what we already know: Washington State’s regressive tax structure hurts those who have the least. Relative to income, the tax burden is nearly double for a family of three making $25,000 (13%) compared to a similar family making $150,000 (6.6%).