Harger: The income tax draft is real — and now the public can finally read it

Last week, I talked about the frustration of watching billion-dollar tax decisions get made in the final hours of the last legislative session. Behind the scenes, drafts circulated among insiders. The public was left in the dark. By the time we saw what was in the bill, it was too late to do anything about it.

I called it “The Secret Menu.”

Well, this morning we published the menu.

A trusted source got me a working draft of the income tax proposal being developed in Olympia. We put the whole thing on MyNorthwest. The details. The provisions. The fine print. All of it.

I’m not here to tell you to support this bill or oppose it. That’s your call. But I am here to make sure you know what’s happening. And until today, most of what the public knew about this proposal came from press conferences and talking points. Now you can read the actual language.

Here’s what’s in the draft

A 9.9% tax on income above $1 million, starting in 2029. Only individuals pay it, not businesses directly. The first million is exempt, so if you earn $1.5 million, you pay the tax on $500,000.

The bill explicitly overrides Initiative 2111, the measure banning state and local income taxes that passed in 2024. We said no to income taxes just 14 months ago. The legislature is saying yes anyway. That’s legal under Washington law, but it’s worth knowing.

Married couples share a single $1 million deduction. Two unmarried people, each earning $600,000, would owe nothing. A married couple earning the same combined total would owe tax. That’s the opposite of how federal taxes work.

Visiting professional athletes would owe Washington tax on income earned from games played here. It’s called a “jock tax.” When the Astros come to T-Mobile Park, their players would owe a piece of their paycheck to Washington. I’m not saying they deserve it, but I’m not not saying it either.

The $1 million threshold is set in statute, not the Constitution. A future legislature could lower it with a simple majority vote. No ballot measure needed

Here’s one for you. The state normally reviews tax policies to make sure they’re working as promised. Kind of a ‘did this actually do what you said it would’ check. This bill exempts itself from that. So we’re supposed to trust it’ll work, but we’re not going to verify.

Now, here’s the part I want to praise.

When I reached out to the House, the Senate, and the Governor’s office for comment, they all got back to me right away. The House and Senate Democrats confirmed the draft was authentic. That’s how it should work. I asked questions. They answered. So thank you.

We published this because I believe the public should get the same heads-up the lobbyists get. You’ve got five weeks to read it, think about it, and call your representative. That’s more notice than Olympia usually gives you.

I don’t know if this bill will pass. I don’t know if it will survive the courts. But I do know that democracy works better when we can see what’s happening in broad daylight instead of behind closed doors.

Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of his stories and commentaries here. Follow Charlie on X and email him here. 

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