Title 84 — Title 84 PROPERTY TAXES

The legislature finds that:(1) Many cities have planned under the growth management act, chapter 36.70A RCW, and designated and zoned lands for industrial and manufacturing use;(2) The industrial and manufacturing industries provide family living wage jobs;(3) In the current econ…

It is the purpose of this chapter to encourage new manufacturing and industrial uses on undeveloped or underutilized lands zoned for industrial and manufacturing uses in targeted urban areas, thereby increasing employment opportunities for family living wage jobs. Cities that pla…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1210-S.SL) ***The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "City" means any city or town.(2) "Family living wage job" means a job that offers health care benefits with a wage that is su…

(1)(a) The value of new construction of industrial/manufacturing facilities qualifying under this chapter is exempt from property taxation under this title, as provided in this section. The value of new construction of industrial/manufacturing facilities is exempt from taxation f…

An owner of property making application under this chapter must meet the following requirements:(1) The new construction of industrial/manufacturing facilities must be located on land zoned for industrial and manufacturing uses, undeveloped or underutilized, and as provided in RC…

(1) The following criteria must be met before an area may be designated as a targeted area:(a) The area must be lands zoned for industrial and manufacturing uses; and(b) The city must have determined that the targeting of the area, as evaluated by the governing authority, will as…

An owner of property seeking an exemption under this chapter must complete the following procedures:(1) The owner must apply to the city on forms adopted by the governing authority. The application must contain the following:(a) Information setting forth the grounds supporting th…

(1) The city governing authority may approve the application if it finds that:(a) A minimum of 25 new family living wage jobs will be created on the subject site as a result of new construction of industrial/manufacturing facilities within one year of building occupancy;(b) The p…

(1) The city governing authority must approve or deny an application filed under this chapter within ninety days after receipt of the application.(2) If the application is approved, the city must issue the owner of the property a conditional certificate of acceptance of tax exemp…

The governing authority may establish an application fee. This fee may not exceed an amount determined to be required to cover the cost to be incurred by the governing authority and the assessor in administering this chapter. The application fee must be paid at the time the appli…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 1210-S.SL) ***(1) Upon completion of the new construction of a manufacturing/industrial [industrial/manufacturing] facility for which an application for an exemption under this chapter has been approved and issued a certificate of occupancy, the owner …

(1) Thirty days after the anniversary of the date of the certificate of tax exemption and each year for the tax exemption period, the owner of the new industrial/manufacturing facilities must file with a designated authorized representative of the city an annual report indicating…

(1) If the value of improvements have been exempted under this chapter, the improvements continue to be exempted for the applicable period under this chapter so long as they are not converted to another use and continue to satisfy all applicable conditions including, but not limi…

This act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2016 and thereafter.[ 2015 1st sp.s. c 9 s 14.]

The legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest of the people of the state of Washington to encourage maintenance, improvement, and preservation of privately owned historic landmarks as the state approaches its Centennial year of 1989. To achieve this purpose…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Historic property" means real property together with improvements thereon, except property listed in a register primarily for objects buried below ground, which is:(a…

Four criteria must be met for special valuation under this chapter. The property must:(1) Be an historic property;(2) Fall within a class of historic property determined eligible for special valuation by the local legislative authority;(3) Be rehabilitated at a cost which meets t…

An owner of property desiring special valuation under this chapter shall apply to the assessor of the county in which the property is located upon forms prescribed by the department of revenue and supplied by the county assessor. The application form shall include a statement tha…

(1) Within ten days after the filing of the application in the county assessor's office, the county assessor shall refer each application for classification to the local review board.(2) The review board shall approve the application if the property meets the criterion of RCW 84.…

(1) The review board shall notify the county assessor and the applicant of the approval or denial of the application.(2) If the local review board determines that the property qualifies as eligible historic property, the review board shall certify the fact in writing and shall fi…

(1) The county assessor shall, for ten consecutive assessment years following the calendar year in which application is made, place a special valuation on property classified as eligible historic property.(2) The entitlement of property to the special valuation provisions of this…

(1) When property has once been classified and valued as eligible historic property, it shall remain so classified and be granted the special valuation provided by RCW 84.26.070 for ten years or until the property is disqualified by:(a) Notice by the owner to the assessor to remo…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, whenever property classified and valued as eligible historic property under RCW 84.26.070 becomes disqualified for the valuation, there shall be added to the tax an additional tax equal to:(a) The cost multiplied by the le…

The additional tax, penalties, and/or interest provided by RCW 84.26.090 shall be payable in full thirty days after the date which the treasurer's statement therefor is rendered. Such additional tax when collected shall be distributed by the county treasurer in the same manner in…

The local legislative authority and the local review board may request the assistance of the state historic preservation officer in conducting special valuation activities.[ 1985 c 449 s 11.]

The state review board shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The rules shall include rehabilitation and maintenance standards for historic properties to be used as minimum requirements by local review boards to ensure that the historic property is…

Any decision by a local review board on an application for classification as historic property eligible for special valuation may be appealed to superior court under RCW 34.05.510 through 34.05.598 in addition to any other remedy at law. Any decision on the disqualification of hi…

As a result of the study and analysis of systems of taxation of standing timber and forestlands by the forest tax committee pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 30 of the 41st session of the legislature, and the recommendations of the committee based thereon, the legislat…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Agricultural methods" means the cultivation of trees that are grown on land prepared by intensive cultivation and tilling, such as irrigating, plowing, or turning ove…

Timber is exempt from ad valorem taxation.[ 2004 c 177 s 3; 1984 c 204 s 18; 1983 1st ex.s. c 62 s 7; 1971 ex.s. c 294 s 4.]Notes:Application—2004 c 177 s 3: "Section 3 of this act applies to taxes levied for collection in 2005 and thereafter." [ 2004 c 177 s 7.]Effective date—20…

(1) An excise tax is imposed on every person engaging in this state in business as a harvester of timber on privately or publicly owned land. The tax is equal to the stumpage value of timber harvested for sale or for commercial or industrial use multiplied by the rate provided in…

The rate of tax imposed under RCW 84.33.041 for timber harvested July 1, 1988, and thereafter, shall be five percent.[ 1984 c 204 s 7.]Notes:Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW 84.33.035.

(1) The legislative body of any county may impose a tax upon every person engaging in the county in business as a harvester effective October 1, 1984. The tax shall be equal to the stumpage value of timber harvested from privately owned land multiplied by a rate of 4 percent; and…

(1) A small harvester may elect to calculate the tax imposed by this chapter in the manner provided in this section.(2) Timber shall be considered harvested at the time when in the ordinary course of business the quantity thereof by species is first definitely determined. The amo…

The excise tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any timber harvested by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation from forestlands owned by it, where such lands are exempt from property taxes under RCW 84.36.030, and where all of the income and receipts of t…

(1) A taxpayer is allowed a credit against the tax imposed under RCW 84.33.041 for timber harvested on and after January 1, 2000, under a forest practices notification filed or application approved under RCW 76.09.050 and subject to enhanced aquatic resources requirements.(2)(a) …

A credit is allowed against the tax imposed under RCW 84.33.041 and 84.33.051 for a tribal tax imposed under an agreement authorized by RCW 43.06.480.[ 2007 c 69 s 4.]Notes:Findings—Intent—2007 c 69: See note following RCW 43.06.475.

If the timber from public land is harvested by the state, its departments and institutions and political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation therein, the governmental unit, or governmental units, that harvest or market the timber must provide the harvester purchasing the t…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5994.SL) ***(1) On the last business day of the second month of each calendar quarter, the state treasurer shall distribute from the timber tax distribution account to each county the amount of tax collected on behalf of each county under RCW 84.33.051…

(1) The taxes imposed under this chapter shall be computed with respect to timber harvested each calendar quarter and shall be due and payable in quarterly installments. Remittance shall be made on or before the last day of the month next succeeding the end of the quarterly perio…

(1) A purchaser of privately owned timber in an amount in excess of 200,000 board feet in a voluntary sale made in the ordinary course of business must, on or before the last day of the month following the purchase of the timber, report the particulars of the purchase to the depa…

(1) The department must estimate the number of acres of public forestland that are available for timber harvesting. The department must provide the estimates for each county and for each taxing district within each county by October 1st of each year except that the department may…

(1) The department of revenue shall designate areas containing timber having similar growing, harvesting, and marketing conditions to be used as units for the preparation and application of stumpage values. Each year on or before December 31 for use the following January through …

All sections of chapter 82.32 RCW, except RCW 82.32.045 and 82.32.270, apply to the taxes imposed under this chapter.[ 1984 c 204 s 13.]Notes:Savings—Effective date—1984 c 204: See notes following RCW 84.33.035.

(1)(a)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, lands that were assessed as classified forestland before July 22, 2001, or as timberland under chapter 84.34 RCW before the merger date adopted by the county under RCW 84.34.400, are designated forestland for the purposes of t…

(1) When land has been designated as forestland under RCW 84.33.130, a notation of the designation must be made each year upon the assessment and tax rolls. A copy of the notice of approval together with the legal description or assessor's parcel numbers for the land must, at the…

(1) If no later than thirty days after removal of designation under this chapter the owner applies for classification under:(a) RCW 84.34.020(1);(b) RCW 84.34.020(2); or(c) RCW 84.34.020(3), unless the timberland classification and designated forestland program are merged under R…

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, this chapter shall not exempt from the ad valorem tax nor subject to the excise tax imposed by this chapter, Christmas trees and short-rotation hardwoods, which are cultivated by agricultural methods, and the land on …

The excise tax imposed under this chapter applies to forest trees harvested after April 4, 1986, from lands sold to any governmental agency by warranty deed or contract where the seller reserved to itself the right to take all merchantable timber for a specific period of years, o…

(1) The legislature shall review the system of distribution and allocation of all timber excise tax revenues in January 1975 and each year thereafter to provide a uniform and equitable distribution and allocation of such revenues to the state and local taxing districts.(2) In ord…