Seattle Property Tax Records
Seattle property tax records are maintained by the King County Assessor and King County Treasury, not the City of Seattle. If you own property in Seattle and need to look up assessed values, pay taxes, or search parcel data, you use King County's online tools. The main portal is eReal Property, where you can search any Seattle parcel by tax account number to get the full report. This page explains where to find Seattle property tax records, how to pay, and what relief programs are available for qualifying owners.
Seattle Overview
Who Handles Seattle Property Taxes
The City of Seattle does not collect property tax. Seattle City Hall does not accept property tax payments, and Seattle's Finance Department is not the right contact for assessment questions. All property tax work for Seattle parcels runs through King County. The King County Assessor values all real and personal property, and King County Treasury sends the bills and collects payment. This is worth knowing before you start searching, because looking on the city's site will just redirect you to the county.
Seattle's own tax authority is limited to business taxes, certain local voter-approved levies, and licenses. When it comes to real property, the King County Assessor's Office at 206-296-7300 is the right call for questions about assessed values. For billing and payment, contact King County Treasury at 206-263-2890 or email propertytax.customerservice@kingcounty.gov.
| Assessor | King County Department of Assessments |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1200 Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Assessor Phone | 206-296-7300 |
| Treasury Phone | 206-263-2890 |
| Treasury Email | propertytax.customerservice@kingcounty.gov |
| Assessor Website | kingcounty.gov/en/dept/assessor |
The City of Seattle Finance page at seattle.gov/city-finance confirms this setup and links to the King County site. That is the official city acknowledgment that property tax administration runs through the county, not city hall.
Search Seattle Property Tax Records Online
The fastest way to look up a Seattle property tax record is through the King County eReal Property portal. You search by the property tax account number, which is the same as the parcel number. The system returns a full property report with assessed value, tax history, year built, square footage, recent sales, and more. You don't need an account and there is no fee to search.
Before the detailed data loads, the portal asks you to agree that you won't use the information for commercial mailing lists. This comes from RCW 42.56.070(9), which limits how lists of individuals can be used. Once you click through, you get full parcel details including photographs of the property taken during assessor site visits. The Assessor notes that accuracy is not warranted and critical information should be verified directly.
The Seattle Municipal Archives also provides a guide for property history research. It points to the King County Parcel Viewer, the Recorder's Office for deeds and liens, and the King County Archives for older recordings. You can find that guide at seattle.gov/cityarchives. It covers sources going back to the 1890s for building permits and includes tips on finding early neighborhood records.
The Seattle Municipal Archives directs property researchers to the King County Parcel Viewer as the main online tool for current parcel data.
The Seattle Archives guide covers the King County Recorder, Assessor records, building permits from the 1890s forward, and historical photo collections.
The King County Assessor also provides the King County Parcel Viewer, which is a map-based search. You can type an address or parcel number, click a parcel on the map, and jump directly to the eReal Property report or the Districts and Development Conditions report. The Parcel Viewer also shows legal description, appraised value, recent sales, square footage, and building features.
The King County eReal Property portal is the starting point for any Seattle parcel lookup.
Seattle City Finance confirms that all property tax assessment, billing, and collection is handled by King County, not the City of Seattle.
Note: The King County Assessor states that data provided through eReal Property is for reference only and should be independently verified for legal or financial purposes.Paying Seattle Property Taxes
King County sends property tax statements by mail each year. For Seattle properties, payment goes to King County Treasury, not to any Seattle city office. Taxes are due in two installments: first half by April 30, second half by October 31. If your total tax bill is $50 or less, the full amount is due by April 30. Missing either due date triggers interest and penalties.
King County offers several ways to pay. Online payments go through a secure portal that accepts credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks. A service fee applies for card payments. Mail payments must be sent to King County Treasury, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98104. Include your property tax account number on the check. In-person payments are taken at the King County Customer Service Center at 201 S. Jackson Street, second floor, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A drop box for check or money order payments is located at the corner of Second Avenue and South Jackson Street. The drop box is accessible Monday through Friday during the same hours as the office.
For full details on payment options, the King County Treasury property tax page has everything you need. It also covers mobile homes and floating homes, which are taxed as personal property unless they are part of a real property account.
Seattle Property Tax Exemptions and Deferrals
Washington State law provides two main relief programs for qualifying property owners: exemptions and deferrals. Both are administered by the King County Assessor for Seattle properties. Exemptions reduce the taxable value of a home or eliminate some of the tax owed. Deferrals let qualifying owners pay taxes at a later date, with the deferred amount becoming a lien on the property until it is repaid.
To qualify for a King County senior or disabled exemption on a Seattle property, you must be at least 62 years old in the first year you apply, or be disabled, or be a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of at least 80 percent. Your household income must be under $84,000 per year based on 2025 earnings, including Social Security and all other sources. You must own and occupy the home as of December 31 of the prior year and live there for at least nine months per year. Details and applications are available through the King County Assessor exemptions page.
For deferrals, the income limit is $88,998 or less for 2025 household income. You must be at least 60 years old or retired due to physical disability. Equity requirements also apply. Interest accrues on deferred amounts and the total stays on the property as a lien. The Assessor recommends applying online for the fastest processing.
If you think your Seattle property's assessed value is too high, you can file an appeal with the King County Board of Equalization. Appeals must be filed within the deadline set each year. For further review beyond the Board level, the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals at bta.wa.gov handles cases statewide. Appeals are governed in part by RCW 84.48.
GIS Tools and Historical Records
The King County GIS Parcel Viewer lets you search Seattle parcels by address, parcel number, or condo name. You can also click directly on the map to select a parcel. Once selected, you get links to the eReal Property report, the Districts and Development Conditions report, and zoning data. Advanced tools in the viewer include intersection finder, buffer selection, and measure tool. Layer controls show address points, parcel number labels, and zoning overlays.
For historical Seattle property research, the Seattle Municipal Archives is a useful secondary source. It holds photos of Seattle residences and buildings shot during paving and utility construction projects over many decades. The Department of Neighborhoods' Historic Resources Survey covers more than 5,000 properties with architect names and construction details. King County Assessor property tax records at the Puget Sound Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives include information cards with photos taken during the 1930s and 1940s, when every building in the county was documented.
For bulk parcel data, the King County GIS Open Data portal at gis-kingcounty.opendata.arcgis.com has downloadable datasets including real property tax receivables and personal property data. Formats include CSV, JSON, and XML.
Note: Recordings made before 1991 that are not yet online can be accessed at the King County Archives in person.King County Property Tax Records
Seattle is part of King County. All property tax records for Seattle parcels are maintained by the King County Assessor. For the full guide to King County tools, offices, and relief programs, visit the King County property tax records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Seattle. Each uses King County or its own county's assessor for property tax records.