FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 21, 2022
Washington state’s sales-and-use tax rate would be cut by 1% across the board and diapers would become entirely exempt from sales-and-use tax, if two bills proposed by Sen. Mona Das (D-Kent) are signed into law.
SB 5932 would reduce the state sales-and-use tax rate from 6.5% to 5.5%.
SB 5915 would exempt diapers from the sales-and-use tax, including both disposable and washable diapers, as well as diapers intended for adults and diapers intended for babies.
“We need to get money back in people’s pockets if we’re to make a full recovery from the high public health cost and economic cost of this pandemic,” said Das. “Both of these bills accomplish that with a bold sales tax cut. Together, they are strong tools to fix Washington’s unbalanced, regressive tax code that asks more of working families than it does of the wealthiest among us.
“Thanks to our federal, state and local leaders’ careful stewardship during this pandemic – and the public resilience throughout our communities – we are in a strong place financially. We should seize this opportunity to live up to our values of a full, equitable recovery and reduce the sales-and-use tax that burdens lower- and middle-income families.”
SB 5932’s 1% sales-and-use tax reduction would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. It would apply to the sales-and-use tax currently levied on items and services categorized under the state constitution’s definition of retail sale. It would not affect local governments’ sales-and-use taxes.
SB 5915’s sales-and-use tax exemption for adult and baby diapers would take effect on July 1, 2022, eliminating the sales-and-use tax on all diapers in Washington state.
“We need to take a serious look at tax relief for all working Washingtonians,” added Das. “And this is the year to do it.”
The 2022 legislative session began on Jan. 10 and will last for 60 days.
