Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit

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The Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit is a form that reports the excise tax on a real estate sale. If you are planning to sell a property in Washington, then the Real Estate Excise Tax has to be paid. The State Law of WA demands an Excise Tax Affidavit be completed and signed before the registration of the legal document of transfer of the ownership of the property. You can fill out this form one section at a time.

Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.

What Is a Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit?

The Real Estate Excise Tax Affidavit form in Washington is a document that depicts the full amount of excise tax that is imposed on real estate. The tax is paid by the seller. The form lists the seller, the buyer, the type of property, and a full description of it. It also records the tax figures and other payments tied to the property.

What to Have Ready Before You Start

Gather these details before you start. Having them at hand lets you fill out the form in one sitting and keeps the names, addresses, and amounts the same from one section to the next. Here is what to collect:

  • The full legal names and addresses of the seller and the buyer
  • The property address and its legal description
  • The tax parcel account numbers for the property
  • The gross selling price of the property
  • The title and date of the deed used to transfer ownership
  • A short description of any personal property included in the sale, such as furniture

The Tax Affidavit itself has many sections and subsections, so one must be careful while filling it out.

Spell the seller’s and buyer’s names the same way in every section, and match them to the names on the deed and the IDs.

How to Fill Out WA Excise Tax Affidavit

This walkthrough uses the single location affidavit. Nevertheless, there are other types of this document, for example, Multiple locations Affidavit and Real Estate Excise Tax Mobile Home Affidavit, and additional papers might be required to be filed for such forms.

We recommend using our modern form-building software to ensure the best result in form completion.

Section 1. Information About the Seller

Enter the seller’s full legal name, mailing address, street address, and phone number. The seller is the person giving up their interest in the property.

section 1 information about the seller filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 2. Information About the Buyer

Enter the buyer’s full legal name, mailing address, street address, and phone number.

section 2 information about the buyer filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 3. New Taxpayer Data

Enter the new taxpayer’s full legal name, mailing address, and street address. Then, you will have to list all real and personal property tax parcel account numbers, they should contain 11 digits. Say whether it is personal property, then type in the estimated value of the property.

section 3 new taxpayer data filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 4. Description of the Property

Enter the property address and location, then add the legal description of the property.

section 4 description of the property filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 5. Enter the Land Use Code For Property

The codes themselves can be found on the official instructions page. Then, tick the appropriate boxes below:

  • Tick ‘Yes’ in case the seller was receiving a property tax exemption or deferral under RCW 84.36, 84.37, or 84.38);
  • Tick ‘Yes’ in case the land is originally used for timber or agriculture. If the sale includes many properties with various land use codes, one should complete another worksheet.

section 5 enter the land use code for property filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 6. Special Use of Land

Tick ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for each subquestion. Tick ‘Yes’ in case the property is in any specific use classification, for example, agricultural use, farm, historic property, or timber.

If you chose the ‘Yes’ option for any of the questions listed, make sure to see the instructions below and complete an additional segment connected with specific land use. Do not forget to put the legal names and signatures of the new owners in case you chose to fill out this section.

section 6 special use of land filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 7. Personal Property Description

Work through the personal property and price lines in order.

  • Write out the information about personal property included in the selling price of the real property. In case the deal involves some kind of personal property such as furniture, for example, briefly describe those items in this subsection;
  • If you are claiming for a tax exemption, write out the WAC section number and explain why you need to get an exemption;
  • Write out the type of document (the title of the deed being used to transfer the ownership) and put the date of the document in an appropriate format;

section 7.1 personal property description filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

  • Enter the gross selling price of the property: a fair market value of the property;
  • For the next line, one will have to deduct the amount of personal property included in the selling price, assuming there is any;
  • Just as in the line above, deduct the amount of tax exemption claimed, in case there is any;
  • Fill out the Taxable Selling Price. This field will be filled out automatically, taking into account the selling price and any amount for personal property and exemption claimed;
  • The State Excise Tax will as well be automatically calculated for you;
  • Indicate the delinquent Interest and Penalty. This is necessary if the registered document is more than 30 days old. One will have to reach the Treasurer’s office to find out the correct amount to enter here, if applicable; leave the field blank otherwise;
  • Fill out the Total Due section: it will also be calculated automatically.

section 7.2 personal property description filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Section 8. Signatures

Both the buyer and the seller will have to sign the paper. Also, make sure to indicate the full legal names of the seller and the buyer, the current date, and the city where the document is signed.

section 8 signatures filling out a washington real estate excise tax affidavit

Example Entries for Sections 1 to 4

Here is how sample answers might look in the first four sections of the form. The names, addresses, and amounts are made up, so replace them with the details from your own sale.

SectionFieldSample entry
1Seller’s full legal nameAnna Baker
1Seller’s mailing address123 Main Street, Springfield
2Buyer’s full legal nameMichael Carter
2Buyer’s mailing address456 Oak Avenue, Riverton
4Address of the property789 Pine Road, Springfield
7Gross selling price$350,000

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most mistakes on this form are small ones that are easy to catch. A quick review before you sign saves you from starting over with a fresh copy, so read each section once more with your deed and purchase agreement in front of you.

  • Swapping the seller and the buyer between sections
  • Spelling a name differently from one section to the next
  • Copying a parcel number or a price with a missing digit
  • Filling in the land use line without reading the instructions page
  • Leaving the date or the city empty in Section 8

Frequently Asked Questions

Which version of the affidavit does this guide use?

The steps above use the single location affidavit. If your sale involves several properties or a mobile home, find the version of the form made for that case and read its own instructions.

Can I fill out the form on a computer?

Yes. Our form-building software lets you type your answers, review them, and then save or print the finished form.

Where do I find the Land Use Code?

The codes are listed on the official instructions page for the form. Look up the code that matches how the property is used, then enter it in Section 5. Keep the instructions page open while you fill in this part.

What should I check before I sign?

Read each section once more and compare these items with your deed and purchase agreement:

  • The names of the seller and the buyer
  • The property address and legal description
  • The parcel numbers
  • The selling price and the other amounts

Keep a signed copy for your records.

What if I do not know a number or an amount for the form?

Check your deed, purchase agreement, or property tax statement first. If the number is still missing, ask your real estate agent or attorney before you fill in that line.

Who can help with a question about a specific line?

The Treasurer’s office is the place to ask about the amounts on the tax lines. A legal forms specialist can also go through the form with you. Take the form and your deed along.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Mara Erlach
Mara Erlach
Writer & Attorney
Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.