Filing WA State Taxes / Just the Basics!

Hello there,
The post below gives the most stripped-down basics for filing WA state taxes. If you’d like to read more detailed posts, and see some screenshots, click on these links: for Service Providers and Retail / Combo.

Also, I want to share this GOOD NEWS right upfront. Once you know what you’re doing, this business chore only takes 5 - 20 minutes. It will take way longer to learn about it, than to actually do them….

:) Jenny Girl Friday


Due for you IF: 
You have a WA state Business License

Estimated Time: 
5 - 10 minutes - Filing
0.5 - 2 hours - Prepping

How: 
Online with MYDOR

Due Dates:
Businesses are assigned annually, quarterly, or monthly

Annual Due Date
• April 15

Quarterly Due Dates
• Apr 30
• Jul 31
• Oct 31
• Jan 31

The Tax Form is called: 
Combined Excise Tax Return

What everybody will need: 

__ MyDOR / SAW - Log-in and Password
__ Gross Sales Total - per time period

Annual Filers
• From January 1 - December 31

Quarterly Filers
• Q1 - January 1 - March 31
• Q2 - April 1 - June 30
• Q3 - July 1 - September 30
• Q4 - October 1 - October 31

Some of you: 
__ Subtotals of Gross Sales by Category

And, if you Retail, you may need:

__ Retail Sales Subtotal
__ Retail Sales out-of-state
__ Retail Sales where Tax is collected by a "Facilitator"
__ Sales Tax Paid at the Source


Types of Tax:  

  • B&O (Business & Occupation Tax)

  • Sales Tax

  • Use Tax

Note:  These are all types of “Excise” tax. That is why the form is called “Combined Excise Tax Return” because it’s asking about all three - and some others - in one, combined form.

B&O Tax: small businesses will receive a tax credit. So, if you gross under about $55K, you will not have to pay any tax. As your income goes up above that number, the tax credit will get smaller, then disappear

Sales Tax: applies to selling products or retail services

Use Tax: applies if your business purchased items/tools outside of WA state