WA taxpayer guide
Check your Washington tax refund
Washington’s Working Families Tax Credit refunds retail sales or use tax to eligible residents. If you applied, use the state’s dedicated refund status tool.
Opens workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov in a new tab.
Independent guide. Not a government website.
Washington and personal income tax
Washington does not tax wages or ordinary personal income. Since residents do not file a standard state individual income tax return, there is no state income tax refund to check.
Washington does not tax wages or ordinary personal income, but it does have a capital gains tax that applies in some situations.
The Working Families Tax Credit is a separate program with its own refund tracker. Use that tracker if you applied for this credit.
Looking for your federal refund?
Federal income tax is separate. Check it only through the IRS.
Go to IRS Where's My Refund?Taxes Washington residents may still pay
- Washington collects state and local retail sales tax and several excise taxes.
- Property taxes are administered by counties under state law.
- Federal income tax: Washington residents may still owe federal income tax and may receive a federal refund from the IRS.
View Washington tax information →
Which refund might you be looking for?
A federal income tax refund
Living in Washington does not change the fact that federal income tax is handled by the IRS. Use the federal return amount and IRS tracker—not a state tax website.
A refund from another state
You may have filed in another state because you lived there for part of the year or earned income there. Track that return with the state where it was filed.
A property-tax adjustment
Property tax is often handled by a county, municipality, assessor, or tax collector. A local rebate or overpayment will not normally appear in an individual income tax tracker.
A business or sales-tax refund
Businesses can have separate sales, use, payroll, excise, or franchise tax accounts. Use the business-tax service provided by Washington State Department of Revenue.
If you earned income in another state
A Washington home address does not by itself eliminate filing obligations elsewhere. Working across state lines, moving during the year, receiving rental income from property in another state, or operating a business elsewhere may require a nonresident or part-year return.
Use the rules of the state connected to that income and keep the state return separate from your federal return. Reciprocity agreements and remote-work rules can change the result, so consult the relevant state agency or a qualified tax professional when more than one state is involved.
Before contacting the tax agency
Identify the type of tax, tax year, form filed, payment amount, and agency shown on any notice. That prevents a call about a federal or local payment from being routed to the wrong office. Call Washington State Department of Revenue at 360-705-6705 for the state taxes it administers; contact the IRS for federal income tax and the appropriate local office for property tax.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not search for a Washington individual income tax tracker. There is no standard resident return of that kind to track.
- Do not enter a federal refund amount into a state business-tax portal. Federal refunds are tracked only through the IRS.
- Do not assume that “no income tax” means no filing anywhere. Federal, another-state, local, or business obligations can still apply.
- Do not trust an unexpected refund message. A text or email asking for an SSN, bank information, or fee may be a phishing attempt. Navigate to the agency independently.
The quickest next step
If you filed a federal Form 1040 and expect money back, use IRS Where’s My Refund. If you filed an income tax return with another state, choose that state from our directory. For a Washington sales, business, or other state-administered tax payment, use Washington State Department of Revenue.
Contact Washington State Department of Revenue
| Agency name | Washington State Department of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Phone | 360-705-6705 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time |
| Mailing address | Washington State Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 47478, Olympia, WA 98504-7478 |
| Official website | dor.wa.gov |
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive a Washington tax refund without a state income tax?
Yes. Eligible residents can apply for the Working Families Tax Credit, a refund of retail sales or use tax. This program is separate from federal income tax and has its own refund status tool.
Where do I check my Working Families Tax Credit refund?
Use the official Working Families Tax Credit refund page linked above. It explains how to reach the status tool and what information to enter. Enter personal information only on the state’s website.
Does Washington tax wages or ordinary personal income?
Washington does not currently tax wages or ordinary personal income. It does collect other taxes, including sales tax and a capital gains tax that applies in some situations.
Is my Working Families Tax Credit the same as my federal refund?
No. Washington’s Department of Revenue administers the Working Families Tax Credit. The IRS handles your federal income tax refund, which must be checked separately.