Every property in Washington is assessed at 100% of its true and fair market value by the county assessor. Levy rates are expressed per $1,000 of assessed value. If your assessed value is too high relative to similar properties, you may be overpaying.

Property owners can appeal their assessment to the County Board of Equalization within 60 days of receiving their change-of-value notice. You'll need to provide evidence such as comparable sales or an independent appraisal.

Filing with the County Board of Equalization is free. If you disagree with the board's decision, you can appeal to the state Board of Tax Appeals within 30 days. Washington uses a levy-based system where the tax rate is the total of all district levies divided by the total assessed value in each district.

Washington offers a senior/disabled exemption for homeowners age 61+ or disabled with limited household income, which can reduce or fully exempt property taxes. A property tax deferral program also allows qualifying homeowners to defer taxes until the property is sold or transferred.