Kirkland Property Tax Records

Kirkland property tax records are managed through the King County Assessor and King County Treasury. If you own property in Kirkland and need to look up your assessed value, current tax bill, or parcel details, the King County eReal Property system is your best starting point. You can search by address or parcel number to get a full report on any Kirkland parcel. This page covers how to search records, how the city sets its levy, what exemptions are available, and where to go if you want to appeal your assessed value.

King County Assessor and Kirkland Parcels

Kirkland is located in King County, so all property assessments are handled by the King County Department of Assessments. The Assessor sets the taxable value for every parcel in the city. That value is then used to calculate the amount each property owner owes across all taxing districts. The Assessor does not set tax rates. It only determines how much each parcel is worth.

The King County Department of Assessments is located at 201 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104. You can reach them at 206-296-7300 or by email at assessor.info@kingcounty.gov. Staff there can answer questions about how your property was valued, what data was used, and what your options are if you think the value is wrong.

Kirkland's total assessed value for all taxable property is approximately $48.35 billion. The median assessed value for a single-family home in Kirkland has been in the range of $500,000 to $700,000 in recent years, depending on the neighborhood and size. Each $0.01 per $1,000 of assessed value change generates roughly $252,000 per year in new city revenue from property tax.

The city grew significantly after annexing North Juanita, Finn Hill, and Kingsgate in 2011. That expansion added a large number of parcels to the city's tax base. If your property was part of one of those annexation areas, your parcel history may show a change in jurisdiction.

City of Kirkland Finance and Administration works closely with the King County Assessor and Treasurer to coordinate levy adoption and tax distribution. The Finance Department is at 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033.

Search Kirkland Property Tax Records Online

The primary tool for looking up Kirkland property tax records online is the King County eReal Property system. You can access it at blue.kingcounty.com/Assessor/eRealProperty. Enter a parcel number or address, and the system returns a full parcel report.

The eReal Property report includes appraised land value, appraised improvement value, taxable value, sale history, building characteristics, and links to permit records and exemption data. You can also see which tax districts apply to your parcel and what levy rates were applied. This is useful when checking whether your tax bill matches the county's records.

The city of Kirkland screenshot below shows the Park Lane area at night, an example of the kind of mixed-use development that has expanded the city's assessed tax base.

Kirkland's dense development areas like Park Lane contribute significant assessed value to the city's property tax rolls.

Note: You need to agree to the terms on the eReal Property site before searching. The system prohibits using the data for commercial mailing lists under RCW 42.56.070.

GIS Parcel Viewer and iMap Tools

King County offers two mapping tools that serve Kirkland property owners. Both are free and work well for finding parcel boundaries and linking to tax data.

The King County Parcel Viewer lets you search by address, parcel number, or map navigation. When you click a parcel, you get a report with property details, photos, and links to the Assessor database. It is the fastest way to confirm parcel boundaries and jurisdiction for any Kirkland property.

The King County iMap tool provides over 100 GIS data layers. These include parcels, zoning overlays, floodplains, and critical area designations. You can click any Kirkland parcel and open a pop-up with direct links to the Assessor report and a Districts and Development Conditions report. The iMap also includes historical aerial photos, which are useful for tracking changes in development over time. You can link directly to a specific parcel using the "pin" parameter in the URL.

Both tools are maintained by the King County GIS Center. They are the primary online entry points for verifying parcel boundaries and zoning for Kirkland properties before buying, selling, or appealing an assessment.

Kirkland Property Tax Payments

Property taxes in Kirkland are collected by the King County Treasury, not the city. Tax bills go out once a year. The first half is due April 30 and the second half is due October 31. If your total tax bill is $50 or less, you must pay the full amount by April 30.

You can pay online through the King County online tax payment portal. The portal accepts credit cards, debit cards, and eCheck. Card payments carry a 2.35% service fee with a $2.00 minimum. eCheck payments are $0.55. King County does not receive any portion of those service fees.

You can also mail a check to King County Treasury. Include your property tax account number on the check. In-person payments are accepted at the King County Customer Service Center, 201 S. Jackson Street, 2nd Floor, Seattle, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A drop box is available at the corner of Second Avenue and South Jackson Street for check or money order payments.

For more on payments and tax foreclosures, visit King County Treasury Operations.

How Kirkland Sets Its Property Tax Levy

The City of Kirkland adopts its property tax levy biennially through the City Council. Washington State limits cities to a 1% annual increase in their regular levy unless voters approve a higher rate. Kirkland's levy methodology starts with the prior year's amount and adds new construction value and any optional 1% increase.

In 2023-2024, the total property tax budget for Kirkland was $84,627,788, a 7.26% increase from the prior period. That growth came partly from the 1.5% new construction assumption and a 1% optional increase. New construction has ranged from 1.35% to 2.7% of the base levy over the past decade. Each new development project that gets added to the tax rolls generates added revenue without a rate increase.

The city distributes property tax revenue across several funds. In 2023-2024 those included the General Fund ($41.4 million), Fire Prop 1 ($14.7 million), Street Operating Fund ($6.8 million), Street Maintenance/Pedestrian Safety Levy ($7.3 million), Parks Maintenance Fund ($3.1 million), Parks Levy Fund ($5.7 million), and debt service funds. The General Fund share pays for core city services including police, planning, and public works.

Kirkland also levies a Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) of 0.50% on all real property sales in the city. This is separate from the annual property tax. REET revenues go to capital projects and infrastructure.

The city has also designated a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area around the NE 85th Street Station. The TIF area covers 52.5 acres and allows Kirkland to capture increased property tax revenue from development in that zone to pay for public infrastructure. The TIF area cannot exceed the lesser of $200 million or 20% of the city's total assessed value. The city coordinated with the King County Treasurer and Assessor to set up the TIF logistics.

Exemptions, Deferrals, and Appeals

King County administers property tax exemption programs for Kirkland residents. The most common program covers senior citizens and disabled persons. If you meet the age and income requirements, you may qualify for a reduction in your assessed value or a cap on how much your taxes can increase. The Assessor's exemption team can be reached at 425-388-3540 for Snohomish County residents, but for Kirkland parcels (King County), contact the King County Assessor directly at 206-296-7300.

The City of Kirkland also runs a Multi-Family Housing Property Tax Exemption Program. This program is designed to encourage the development of affordable housing in designated areas. If you own a qualifying multi-family property, the improvement value may be exempt from city taxes for a set period. Contact the Kirkland Finance Department at molson@kirklandwa.gov for details on how to apply.

If you believe your property has been over-assessed, you have the right to appeal. Appeals go to the King County Board of Equalization. You must file before the deadline shown on your value change notice. The board reviews appeals and can adjust assessed values. For state-level appeals, the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals handles cases that were not resolved at the county level. You can read about the appeals process at bta.wa.gov.

Note: Filing an appeal does not delay your tax due date. You must still pay by April 30 and October 31 even if your appeal is pending.

Recorded Documents for Kirkland Properties

Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other documents recorded against Kirkland properties are maintained by the King County Recorder. These records establish legal ownership and any encumbrances on a parcel. If you are researching title history or need to confirm ownership, the Recorder's office is the right place to start.

King County provides an online recorded documents search. You can search by name, document type, or parcel number. The search covers records going back decades. Contact the King County Recorder at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 for certified copies or in-person research assistance.

King County Property Tax Records

Kirkland is in King County. All assessed values, tax bills, and parcel records for Kirkland properties flow through King County systems. For a full overview of how property taxes work across the county, including search tools and exemption programs, visit the King County page.

View King County Property Tax Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also file property tax records through King County and Snohomish County systems.