King County property taxes total $8.4 billion in 2026, up about 10% from 2025, while total assessed value rose only about 5.4%. The difference comes mostly from voter-approved levies. A median home’s 2026 bill ranges from about $6,092 in Kent to $12,724 in Redmond, depending on the city and its levies.
I have spent more than 25 years closing loans around Puget Sound, and I do not sell, I educate. Property tax is one of the biggest pieces of a King County house payment, and it is the one buyers understand least. This guide explains how your bill is set, why rates differ so much from city to city, and how to plan for it when you buy. For loan limits, costs, and programs across the county, start with my King County home loans hub.
King County Property Taxes in 2026 by City
Here are the King County Assessor’s 2026 figures for a median home in seven cities. The levy rate is the total tax per $1,000 of assessed value for that city’s main tax area.
| City | 2026 median assessed value | 2026 levy rate per $1,000 | 2026 median tax | Change from 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmond | $1,515,000 | $8.40 | $12,724 | +17.3% |
| Bellevue | $1,635,000 | $7.43 | $12,142 | +8.8% |
| Issaquah | $1,390,000 | $8.30 | $11,537 | +7.8% |
| Shoreline | $831,000 | $9.95 | $8,271 | +8.7% |
| Seattle | $833,000 | $9.91 | $8,254 | +3.9% |
| Renton | $710,000 | $10.58 | $7,511 | +6.2% |
| Kent | $605,000 | $10.07 | $6,092 | +6.5% |
Figures are from the King County Assessor’s 2025 to 2026 city tax comparison reports and its 2026 property tax summary. Levy rates can differ within a city by school or fire district.
Notice the pattern. Lower-priced cities tend to carry higher rates. Renton’s levy works out to about 1.06% of assessed value and Kent’s about 1.01%, while Bellevue’s is about 0.74% and Issaquah’s about 0.83%. Because the Eastside’s values are so much higher, its bills are still the largest in dollars. Seattle’s median bill rose less than most because its median assessed value actually fell 3.6% this year, while its rate went up.
How Are King County Property Taxes Calculated?
Your bill is your home’s assessed value multiplied by the combined levy rate for your location, divided by 1,000. As an illustrative example, a Seattle home assessed at $833,000 with Seattle’s 2026 rate of $9.90845 per $1,000 owes about $8,254 for the year.
Two pieces set that number:
- Assessed value. The King County Assessor values every property each year, based on market sales, and physically inspects each property at least once every six years. Your 2026 tax bill is based on the value from the 2025 assessment, so it often lags the market by a year or more.
- Levy rate. This is the total of every taxing district that covers your address: the state school levy, King County, your city, your school district, fire and hospital districts, the Port of Seattle, Sound Transit, and more. Each district sets how much money it needs, and the rate is that amount divided by all the assessed value in the district.
That second point surprises most people. Washington uses a budget-based system. State law generally limits each district’s regular levy to 1% growth per year plus new construction, unless voters approve more. So when values rise across the board, rates tend to fall, and the total collected does not jump on its own. As the Assessor puts it, voter-approved measures, not rising values, drive most increases.
Why Did King County Property Taxes Rise in 2026?
King County’s total property tax collections rose about $770 million, or 10%, to $8.4 billion for 2026, while total assessed value rose about 5.4%, from $873 billion to $920 billion. The gap came mostly from levies voters approved. A few examples from the Assessor’s 2026 city reports:
- Hospital districts. A lid lift for Valley General Hospital District 1 raised that line from about $0.30 to $0.74 per $1,000 for Kent and Renton owners. Evergreen Hospital District 2’s line rose from about $0.14 to $0.50 for Redmond and Kirkland owners.
- Seattle levies. Seattle’s renewed Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy roughly doubled, from about $0.35 to $0.69 per $1,000, and Seattle Public Schools’ capital levy rose from about $1.23 to $1.41.
- Countywide measures. Voters renewed the county parks levy, the emergency medical services levy, and the fingerprint identification system levy, and the countywide hospital line rose from $0.10 to about $0.15.
What this means for you: your property tax can rise even if your home’s value does not, because levies are decided at the ballot box. When you buy, the tax on the listing is last year’s number. It is worth asking what is on the next ballot in that city and school district.
Comparing homes in two King County cities? I am glad to run both with their actual property taxes, so you can see how much the rate difference changes your monthly cost. Call me at (206) 601-3426 or send a quick email, and we will keep it pressure-free.
How King County Property Taxes Fit Into Your Mortgage
Most buyers pay property taxes through an escrow account, which is an account your lender sets up to pay your tax and insurance bills for you. Each month, part of your payment goes into escrow, and the lender pays the county when the bills are due.
Due dates. King County property taxes are paid in two halves, due April 30 and October 31.
At closing. Escrow divides the current year’s bill between you and the seller based on the closing date, then your lender collects a few months of tax as a starting cushion. My King County closing costs guide shows how that fits into your cash to close.
The first year. Your first bills are based on the assessed value before you bought, which may be well below your purchase price. When the Assessor catches up, your tax and your escrow payment can rise. Lenders review escrow once a year, so a jump can show up as a higher payment or a one-time shortage.
New construction. A brand-new home may be taxed on the land only at first. Once the finished house is assessed, the bill can increase sharply. If you are buying new, I build the full assessed value into your budget from day one.
For planning before you have a specific home, I use about 0.91% of the purchase price per year, which sits in the middle of the rates above. Once you choose a home, I replace it with the actual levy rate for that address. My Seattle mortgage calculator uses the same 0.91% starting estimate, and you can change it to match any city.
Can You Lower Your King County Property Taxes?
Appeal your assessed value. If your assessed value is higher than what your home would sell for, you can appeal to the King County Board of Equalization. The deadline is July 1, or 60 days after your value notice was mailed if that is later. Recent comparable sales are the strongest evidence.
Senior and disabled exemption. Homeowners who are at least 62, or disabled, or veterans with an 80% service-connected disability rating, may qualify if their annual income is under $84,000 for the 2026 tax year (based on 2025 income). You must own the home by December 31 of the prior year and live there at least nine months a year. Depending on income, the exemption can reduce your taxable value and freeze it at a set level.
Deferral programs. Owners 60 and older, or retired because of a disability, with 2025 household income of $88,998 or less may be able to defer property taxes, subject to equity requirements. Deferred taxes become a lien that is repaid later, usually when the home sells. Applications for the limited-income deferral are due September 1.
Details and applications are on the King County Assessor’s exemption page. This is not tax advice; talk to a tax professional about your own situation.
What King County Property Taxes Mean for Buyers in 2026
Property taxes change how much home a given budget buys. On a $950,000 home, the difference between a property tax levy of about 0.74% of value and one of about 1.06% is about $3,000 a year, or roughly $250 a month, as an illustrative example. That can shift what you qualify for, because lenders count property tax in your debt-to-income ratio.
Use the city table above alongside my King County housing market 2026 report to compare total cost, not just price. City-specific guides for Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Shoreline, and Issaquah cover each market in more detail. If you are also looking north, compare with my guide to Snohomish County property taxes.
SEATTLE MORTGAGE CALCULATOR
What would your full monthly payment be?
Property tax, insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues included. Enter the rate from your own quote to add principal and interest.
Estimates only, not a quote or a payment promise. Property tax uses a 0.91% planning estimate; insurance is an example. Subject to credit approval and a full loan estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions: King County Property Taxes
What is the property tax rate in King County?
It depends on the city and taxing districts. In 2026, the Assessor's city reports show rates from about $7.43 per $1,000 of assessed value in Bellevue to about $10.58 in Renton, with Seattle at about $9.91. That is roughly 0.74% to 1.06% of assessed value.
Why did my King County property tax go up in 2026?
Countywide collections rose about 10% to $8.4 billion, mostly because of voter-approved levies such as hospital district lid lifts, school levies, and Seattle's Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise levy. Rising values alone do not raise total collections, because Washington generally limits regular levy growth to 1% a year plus new construction.
When are King County property taxes due?
They are due in two halves, on April 30 and October 31. Most homeowners with a mortgage pay through an escrow account, and the lender pays the county on those dates.
How do I appeal my King County assessed value?
File an appeal with the King County Board of Equalization by July 1, or within 60 days of your value notice if that is later. Recent sales of comparable homes are the strongest evidence that the assessed value is too high.
Is there a property tax exemption for seniors in King County?
Yes. Homeowners 62 or older, or disabled, or veterans with an 80% service-connected disability rating may qualify if their income is under $84,000 for the 2026 tax year, subject to ownership and occupancy rules. A separate deferral program is available to owners 60 and older with 2025 household income of $88,998 or less.
How much should I budget for property tax when buying in King County?
For a first estimate, I use about 0.91% of the purchase price per year, which falls in the middle of King County's city rates. Once you choose a home, replace it with that address's actual levy rate, and remember the bill may rise once the Assessor reflects your purchase price.
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Keith Akada, NMLS #112443, The Mortgage Reel
Phone: (206) 601-3426
Email: keith@mortgagereel.com
Website: themortgagereel.com
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Keep exploring: King County home loans, closing costs in King County, the King County housing market 2026 report, and Lake Forest Park property taxes. This article is general education, not tax advice.