Washington Slashes Estate Tax: Why Your Inheritance Still Isn't Safe

A dramatic view of the Capitol building in Olympia, Washington, the morning sun casting dramatic shadows on the beautiful stone architecture.

Just as the dust seemed to settle on Washington's tax code, the Evergreen State is once again shifting its fiscal identity.

Historically a "no-income-tax" state, Washington broke a 90-year streak in 2021 by implementing a capital gains tax. Then, only last year, lawmakers enacted a record-breaking estate tax hike, pushing the top rate to 35% — the highest state "death tax" in the nation.