Articles about taxes

Seattle voters view economy as weakening in survey that reveals short-lived World Cup euphoria

The eleventh edition of The Index, a semiannual survey tracking voter sentiment commissioned by the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, reveals a sharp erosion in public confidence regarding the city’s economic trajectory. Read More

Billionaire Jeff Bezos: ‘Success is not villainy’

Speaking from Blue Origin’s factory floor in Florida, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos offered an unapologetic defense of free enterprise, declaring that “success is not villainy.” For Seattle and the broader tech landscape, his comments offer a window into the foundational mindset that built Amazon—and arrive as Washington voters prepare to decide the fate of high-earner tax policy this November. Read More

Facing ‘seismic shifts’ in tech sector, Seattle mayor freezes JumpStart tax rates in new budget

Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposed budget closes a $175 million deficit through spending cuts and leaves the JumpStart payroll tax untouched, offering big tech employers a period of tax stability. Read More

Despite business angst, Washington climbs in CNBC’s state rankings — but still trails its former standing

Washington climbed three spots to No. 11 in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business rankings, up from No. 14 last year, suggesting that many of the state’s underlying competitive strengths remain intact even as debate over its business climate has intensified. Read More

Gov. Bob Ferguson taps Amazon, Microsoft and others as concerns over Washington economy grow

The group includes leaders from technology, aerospace, organized labor, higher education, tribal governments, ports and economic development organizations who will advise the governor on policies aimed at strengthening Washington’s economy. Read More

Opinion: Washington state’s tax debate is missing half the equation

Washington’s tax debate fixates on regressivity rankings, but overlooks how taxes shape economic behavior — and whether progressive-looking systems actually produce better outcomes for working families. Read More

Opinion: The myth of Washington’s tax burden, by the numbers

Contrary to popular myths, our taxes are relatively low, haven’t exploded skyward, and are nowhere near the point of creating serious damage to the commercial sphere. Read More

Seattle mayor’s ‘bye’ to millionaires who leave state over taxes is no laughing matter to some in tech

The debate over progressive taxation in Washington state has been building for months, with the tech community largely alarmed by what it sees as a hostility toward business in the region. Read More

Opinion: Make Democracy capitalist again

If you listen to Democrats at both the state and national level today, capitalism is the enemy. Billionaires and their current avatars, AI and data centers, have become the bogeymen that electeds and party leaders invoke to stir outrage in the base. Read More

Opinion: The wrong tax at the wrong time for Washington

Seattle entrepreneur Jesse Proudman on why he’s saddened by the state’s new income tax, writing that it comes at the “worst possible moment” amid the AI boom. Read More

Opinion: You couldn’t pay me to leave Washington state, and I’d pay more to stay

My view on Washington’s proposed tax on very high incomes is simple: if I’ve found myself in the position of making that much in a year, I can afford to contribute a little more to the place that helped make that circumstance possible. Read More

Washington governor says he’ll sign millionaires tax

Ferguson said a revised proposal met his desire to send more revenue back to working families and small businesses. The legislation has sparked intense debate within the state’s tech and business circles. Read More

In new letter to governor, Seattle tech leaders say income tax proposal will hurt region’s AI innovation

A group of AI researchers, founders, and investors argue that higher taxes on high earners and investment gains would push top talent and future startups elsewhere at a critical moment in tech. Read More

Column: Public trust is becoming AI’s real bottleneck

The two towers near Aberdeen weren’t supposed to be monuments. They were supposed to be engines. Drive west from Olympia… Read More

Group alleges fake sign-ins used to pad apparent opposition to Washington state ‘millionaires tax’

Invest in Washington Now said there have been tens of thousands of duplicate names used as sign-ins for hearings and more than 100 sign-ins marked “con” were confirmed as fraudulent over the weekend. Read More

Proposed income tax on high earners advances in Washington state

The so-called “millionaires tax,” which would create a 9.9% tax on income that exceeds $1 million, has drawn opposition from some tech leaders and entrepreneurs. Read More

Opinion: Here’s what’s missing from the tax debate in Washington state

Editor’s note: GeekWire publishes guest opinions to foster informed discussion and highlight a diversity of perspectives on issues shaping the… Read More

Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’ targets top earners as tech leaders warn of startup fallout

Washington leaders unveiled their so-called “millionaires tax” — a proposed 9.9% tax on personal income in excess of $1 million. Business leaders are worried about additional financial burdens in a shaky economy while supporters stress the growing affordability crisis. Read More

Seattle tax hike on big businesses set to pass after early voting returns

Proposition 2 will reshape the city’s business and occupation (B&O) tax that applies to gross revenue — impacting both small startups and large tech companies such as Amazon. Read More

‘Big Beautiful’ tax benefit: Amazon and other tech giants reap the rewards of new law, for now

Amazon’s cash tax payments fell 45% in the third quarter, driven largely by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, even as profits surged 38%. The new U.S. law, championed by President Trump, allows companies to immediately deduct equipment and R&D costs — boosting investment in AI infrastructure while cutting near-term tax bills. Read More

taxes

Seattle voters view economy as weakening in survey that reveals short-lived World Cup euphoria

Billionaire Jeff Bezos: ‘Success is not villainy’

Facing ‘seismic shifts’ in tech sector, Seattle mayor freezes JumpStart tax rates in new budget

Despite business angst, Washington climbs in CNBC’s state rankings — but still trails its former standing

Gov. Bob Ferguson taps Amazon, Microsoft and others as concerns over Washington economy grow

Opinion: Washington state’s tax debate is missing half the equation

Opinion: The myth of Washington’s tax burden, by the numbers

Seattle mayor’s ‘bye’ to millionaires who leave state over taxes is no laughing matter to some in tech

Opinion: Make Democracy capitalist again

Opinion: The wrong tax at the wrong time for Washington

Opinion: You couldn’t pay me to leave Washington state, and I’d pay more to stay

Washington governor says he’ll sign millionaires tax

In new letter to governor, Seattle tech leaders say income tax proposal will hurt region’s AI innovation

Column: Public trust is becoming AI’s real bottleneck

Group alleges fake sign-ins used to pad apparent opposition to Washington state ‘millionaires tax’

Proposed income tax on high earners advances in Washington state

Opinion: Here’s what’s missing from the tax debate in Washington state

Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’ targets top earners as tech leaders warn of startup fallout

Seattle tax hike on big businesses set to pass after early voting returns

‘Big Beautiful’ tax benefit: Amazon and other tech giants reap the rewards of new law, for now

Seattle leaders pass tax hike for big companies, cuts for small biz – but voters get final word

Washington governor approves new business taxes, acknowledges potential ‘unintended consequences’

Proposed law to tax short-term rentals in Washington fails to advance after Airbnb pushback

Report: Las Vegas is an attractive bet for Washington state millionaires fleeing wealth taxes

Airbnb pushes back on new bill that would tax short-term rentals to fund housing in Washington

Washington state’s capital gains tax stands as U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear appeal of law

Washington state capital gains tax collects nearly $900M in first year

Seattle business leaders want city to suspend JumpStart and B&O tax to revive downtown

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, long a thorn in Amazon’s side, won’t seek re-election

IRS delays implementation of tax policy change being fought by marketplace companies