Counties push to raise real-estate excise tax transaction fee from $5 to $20

Committee staff summarized House Bill 1044 as a proposal to replace an existing $5 affidavit filing fee with a $20 fee on all real-estate-excise-tax (REET) affidavits, regardless of whether tax is due. Under the bill the amount would be adjusted every four years by the Department of Revenue based on CPI‑shelter growth. Sixty‑five percent of the fee would be dedicated to county assessor activities and the remainder to county treasurer activities.

Sponsor Rep. Sharon Wiley framed the measure as a cost‑recovery step that would help county assessors and treasurers keep up with rising administrative costs. "This is a fee that is a mere cost‑recovery element," Wiley said, noting counties perform constitutionally required services and have limited taxing authority.

County officials testified in favor. Jennifer Wallace, executive director of the Washington Association of County Officials, said the bill recognizes the administrative impacts of tax-law changes and supports effective implementation. Thurston County Assessor Stephen Drew testified that the $5 fee has not kept pace with rising costs and that assessor offices are understaffed; he said his office has four fewer employees than in 2008. "This bill is urgently needed," Drew told the committee.

The county treasurers’ association supported the increase as necessary to cover software, maintenance and personnel costs. Jeff Gadman, president of the Washington State Association of County Treasurers, said combined assessor and treasurer offices need dedicated revenue to maintain services.

Taxpayer advocates opposed the increase. Jeff Pack of Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes called the proposal an example of fee increases that add to residents’ costs. "So much today is electronic, more streamlined and more efficient. If it's costing you more to process these, then you need instead of looking into the why it's costing you more, the go to solution is always raise taxes and fees," Pack said.

The committee took testimony and no formal vote occurred that day. Staff and multiple county officials emphasized the fee would be dedicated to assessor and treasurer functions and adjusted for inflation every four years under the bill text presented to the committee.