Treasurer's Office

Please note: The Extension Application period has closed

The Skagit County Treasurer’s Office has closed customer service counters to public access in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community. We have a small staff and continuity of operation is of utmost importance to us, as is the health of the citizens we serve. Treasurer’s Office customers can still receive services via email, regular mail and by phone.

The work of the office will continue and customers will still be able to receive services. If you have a complicated issue that requires a face to face meeting, please call or email us to set up an appointment with staff. If you have a simple excise transaction, your affidavit and check can be dropped in our payment box and it will be processed accordingly. Please call our office for an appointment with our excise specialist for more complex excise issues.v

Property tax payments can be mailed or left in the drop boxes just outside our door, or in the box in the horseshoe parking lot. We check the drop boxes throughout the day. You can also call our office to sign up for autopay, which is free of charge. The deadline to sign up for autopay for payments due April 30 is April 15.

Payments can also be made by phone or on-line, however, an additional fee is charged by the credit card company. Cash payments can be put in the drop box and a receipt will be mailed to you.

Please call 360-416-1750 for questions and or appointments. You can also email us at treasurer@co.skagit.wa.us.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

For your own health and the health of our staff, please consider conducting county business online or by mail.

Skagit County Treasurer employees want to serve the public in the safest and best possible manner during the COVID-19 crisis. Some of our services can be easily transacted without physically coming to the office.

1. Taxes may be paid online with a check or a credit card. There is a $1.50 fee for checks and a 2.65% fee associated with credit cards. . You may also make arrangements with your bank to pay or simply put a check in the mail. 
2. Excise transactions may be sent through the mail. More information for excise can be found under Department of Revenue Washington Administrative Code 458. For questions on excise, please call 360-416-1750.
3. Many questions can be asked by emailing treasurer@co.skagit.wa.us or looking online.
4. Questions about the status of your tax recalculation for a reduction in taxes can be answered by calling 360-416-1750. Questions about your business or mobile home personal property tax can be answered by calling 360-416-1750
5. Continue to monitor the Skagit County Government website for current information on government services.

Please be patient, we will answer your calls and emails as soon as we can. As you can imagine, we are experiencing a heavy volume of calls and emails.

Welcome

January 30, 2020

Dear Taxpayer,

Tax bills will soon be arriving in your mailboxes. After a significant reduction in 2019, 2020 brings increases for most taxpayers, which are largely a result of state legislation.

Your property tax bill reflects your property’s share of the state, county, and other taxing districts. These include schools, fire, emergency services, and ports. Except for the State tax, all property taxes are budget-based. The State allows local districts budget increases of 1 percent, plus an allowance for new construction. Changes in taxes for individual properties vary, depending on that property’s change in value as compared with others in the district. Other increases may only come in the form of voter-approved levies.

The State tax is rate-based, which means that it fluctuates with assessed value. For 2019 taxes, the State legislature reduced the State levy for one year only. The re-implementation of this plus the impact of increased assessed value, resulted in an overall increase of 29% County-wide for the State portion of taxes. Some local school districts have also passed new E&O levies in 2019 and others have new levies on the ballot this year to recover some of the local support lost in 2019.

With assessed values continuing to rise in 2019, the State Levy increase will greatly impact most taxpayers.
The individual property amounts will vary depending on the assessed value difference from last year.  

2020 brings a change to the senior/disabled exemption, with increases in the income level and residency requirements. Seniors and or disabled persons with household income of $42,390 or less who live in their homes more than nine months a year may be eligible. This program is administered by the Assessor, so please check with them for details.

Although no one enjoys paying taxes, the money is needed to fund public schools, police and fire services, and many other important public functions. Our offices are open 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday. We strive to make your interactions with us positive, and we welcome your questions, comments or suggestions.

Please visit the Skagit County Website , where you can view your own property tax distribution as well as other details about your property such as septic history, voting districts and permit data on Property One Stop.
You can pay your taxes by mail, online (2.6% fee applies), in person at the Treasurer’s Office, or you can call our office and sign up for our autopay program. The first half property taxes are due April 30, 2020.

Treasurer’s Office 360-416-1750                                             Assessor’s Office 360-416-1780

Respectfully,

Jackie Brunson
Skagit County Treasurer

Our Mission Statement
To safe-keep and manage public funds while equitably providing honest and respectful customer service.
In carrying out our responsibilities, our goal is to provide the highest quality of service and professionalism.

General Taxpayer Information
Property taxes are due when billed, however, there are two final dates that tax payments must be received. If you choose to split your property taxes into two installments, the first installment must be received by April 30 and the second installment must be received by October 31. If the property tax is less than $50.00, the full year must be paid by April 30. Personal property taxes on business equipment and supplies and improvements on leased land must have the first installment paid by April 30 or the full tax year becomes delinquent and is due in full. (RCW 84.56.020)

Interest is assessed at 1% per month on the full year tax amount due, beginning May 1. If still unpaid on June 1, an additional 3% penalty is assessed. A second penalty of 8% is assessed on December 1 if taxes remain unpaid. Please contact our office at 360-416-1750 for the correct amount due if you are paying late.

The Skagit County Assessor sets values on property, establishes levies, and approves exemptions. Please refer to the Assessor's Office for more information on how your property taxes are calculated.