Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)

February 23, 2026

New York Times: In Washington State, Democrats Consider Breaking a Taboo: Taxing the Rich

Media Mention

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Washington is one of just nine states that does not tax income. Last week, the State Senate approved what supporters and opponents alike call the “millionaires tax,” a proposed 9.9 percent annual tax on personal earnings over $1 million, enough to bring in $3.7 billion a year. Members of the state House must now decide whether to embrace the tax — and the fundamental shift it represents in how Washington pays for schools, health care and other public services — before their 2026 legislative session ends on March 12.

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