Taxes & Fees: Bellevue vs Kirkland
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Bellevue, WA and Kirkland, WA?
Kirkland has fewer restrictions than Bellevue.
Bellevue, WA
King County
Bellevue STR operators collect sales tax (~10.4%), a 5% hotel/motel tax, and a 2.5% transient rental tax under RCW 67.28. B and O tax may also apply. Airbnb may auto-collect some taxes only.
View full Bellevue rules →Kirkland, WA
King County
Short-term rental operators in Kirkland must collect Washington sales tax, state lodging tax, King County tax, and pay Kirkland business license fees based on gross receipts.
View full Kirkland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bellevue | Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Sales Tax | ~10.4% | - |
| Hotel/Motel Tax | 5% | - |
| Transient Rental | 2.5% | - |
| DOR Registration | UBI required | - |
| State Law | RCW 67.28 | - |
| State sales tax | - | About 10.3 percent in Kirkland |
| King County lodging | - | 2 percent |
| City lodging tax | - | 1 percent |
| City license fee | - | About 125 dollars plus receipts |
| Record retention | - | 5 years minimum |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bellevue FAQ
What is the total tax rate on Bellevue short-term rentals?
Approximately 18 percent when combining the 10.4 percent sales tax, 5 percent hotel/motel tax, and 2.5 percent transient rental tax authorized under RCW 67.28.
Does Airbnb handle all Bellevue STR taxes?
Airbnb auto-collects some state and local taxes, but operators should verify on the host dashboard which taxes are remitted and file directly with Washington DOR for any gaps.
Kirkland FAQ
Does Airbnb collect Washington taxes for me?
Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit state and local sales and lodging taxes under the marketplace facilitator law, but hosts must still register and file returns showing the marketplace-collected amounts.
Is Kirkland business license revenue-based?
Yes, Kirkland charges a base license fee plus a gross receipts component that increases with annual revenue, and STR income counts toward that total.
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