Washington Hires 300 Tax Collectors for Future Income Tax

New hires will start work this summer, even though revenue won't arrive until 2029

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, fragmented painting of a dollar bill symbol in shades of green and grey, conveying the complex, bureaucratic machinery of tax collection.The state's preemptive hiring of tax collectors signals an aggressive approach to expanding revenue sources, even before the new income tax is implemented.Olympia Today

Despite the fact that Washington state's new 'millionaires tax' income tax won't start generating revenue until 2029, the state is already hiring 300 new tax collectors this summer to build out the infrastructure to collect the tax. Critics argue this is an unnecessary expense that will ultimately lead to the tax being expanded to lower income brackets in the future.

Why it matters

The hiring of these tax collectors before any revenue is generated raises concerns that the state is laying the groundwork to eventually expand the income tax to lower income levels, similar to how the federal income tax has grown over the past century. There are also ongoing legal challenges to the constitutionality of the new state income tax.

The details

The state of Washington plans to hire 300 new tax collectors starting in July 2026, even though the first dollars from the new 'millionaires tax' income tax won't start coming in until 2029. Critics argue this is an unnecessary expense that will ultimately lead to the tax being expanded to lower income brackets in the future, similar to how the federal income tax has grown over the past century.

  • The new tax collectors will start work in July 2026.
  • The first revenue from the 'millionaires tax' income tax won't arrive until 2029.

The players

Lars Larson

A radio talk show host known as 'The Northwest Nonsense' who is critical of the new income tax.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't make a million bucks a year, so folks tell me I don't have to worry about Washington state's new income tax.”

— Lars Larson, Radio Talk Show Host

“The Evergreen State plans to build a whole new bureaucracy to identify citizen incomes that go above $1 million. Most of us know in our hearts the state won't get as much money as it wants so the new income tax will soon hit folks who make less than a million.”

— Lars Larson, Radio Talk Show Host

What’s next

The state's new income tax is currently facing legal challenges, and voters may have the opportunity to weigh in on the tax through a ballot measure in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the concerns that new taxes, even if targeted at the wealthy, can lead to the expansion of tax burdens to lower income brackets over time as governments seek to maximize revenue. The preemptive hiring of tax collectors before any revenue is generated raises questions about the state's long-term intentions.