What property tax rates and estimated annual tax bills should I expect for a $900,000 house in West Seattle in 2026

Short answer. You can estimate a West Seattle property tax bill by multiplying the assessed value of the home by the combined levy rate for King County, the City of Seattle, local school districts and special districts; exact levies vary by parcel and must be checked for the specific address.

How to use this article

Step first. Follow the step by step calculation in section 3, then verify the parcel levies with King County and Seattle assessors. Use the example math to build a budget for mortgage escrow and annual payments.

2. How Washington property taxes are calculated

Assessed value versus market value. In Washington state the county assessor sets an assessed value for tax purposes that is often close to market value, but the assessed figure is what multiplies by levy rates to produce your bill. For a $900,000 asking price you should check the King County assessed value for the specific West Seattle parcel.

Tax rate components

Major levy categories. Property tax bills in West Seattle combine several levy rates: King County general levy, City of Seattle levy, Seattle Public Schools or other school district levies, fire district or emergency medical services levies, and any local library or port levies. Special assessments or voter-approved bonds may add additional cents per thousand.

3. Step by step: Estimating the annual tax bill for a $900,000 West Seattle house

Direct steps. Use the three steps below: verify assessed value, find the combined levy rate for the parcel, and calculate the bill with any exemptions or special assessments applied.

Step 1. Verify the assessed value

Find parcel details. Go to King County Parcel Viewer or the King County assessor site and enter the West Seattle address. The assessor page shows the most recent assessed value, year of assessment, tax parcel number, and any exemption status such as senior or disabled veteran exemptions.

Step 2. Find the combined levy rate for the parcel

What to look for. The assessor or treasurer site lists the total levy rate expressed as dollars per $1,000, or as a percentage. Note each component: county, city, school district, and special districts. For West Seattle addresses school district is typically Seattle Public Schools, but verify per address because boundaries can shift for fringe parcels.

Step 3. Apply the math and exemptions

Calculation formula. Annual tax = (Assessed value divided by 1,000) multiplied by combined levy rate. Subtract any exemptions before applying the rate if the exemption reduces assessed value.

• Example assessed value: $900,000
• Example combined levy rate: $10.50 per $1,000
• Calculation: 900 multiplied by 10.50 equals $9,450 annual bill

Why the example matters. That example uses round numbers to show the math, but real parcels in West Seattle will show a combined levy rate on the King County site. Replace the example levy with the parcel rate to get your exact estimate.

4. Local details to check for West Seattle addresses

Key local levies. For West Seattle specifically verify Seattle city levies, Seattle Public Schools levies, King County levies, and any Port of Seattle or regional library levies that apply. Some West Seattle subareas close to the Duwamish or Alki have identical municipal levies, but special district charges differ by parcel.

Special assessments and bonds

Voter-approved measures. School bonds, county measures and city propositions approved by voters add to tax bills. Check the assessor's levy breakdown for any bond amounts specific to the parcel; those items are the usual source of variation between two West Seattle homes with the same assessed value.

Where to verify. King County Treasurer and King County Assessor websites list the levy breakdown and the parcel number search. Seattle Finance and Seattle Public Schools sites publish levy and bond details so you can confirm which line items apply to a West Seattle address.

5. Practical tips for buyers and sellers

Escrow and mortgage planning. Lenders often collect property taxes into escrow. Read your loan estimate and ask how your lender calculates escrow for the first year, since timing of tax assessments and due dates can cause the initial escrow demand to differ from the ongoing monthly escrow amount.

Beyond principal and interest. Consider reading the National Association of Realtors' explanation of how escrow affects mortgage payments to understand how estimated taxes become part of your monthly housing cost.

Watch for valuation changes

Value-driven tax shifts. When home values change across Seattle, assessed values used for tax bills can follow. For background on the relationship between rising values and tax pressure see coverage that links home values and property taxes.

Check for appeals. If you believe the assessed value for a West Seattle parcel is incorrect, the King County assessor has an appeal process. Timing matters, so review appeal deadlines on the assessor site if you plan to contest an assessment.

• Bring the parcel number: Use the King County assessor search to pull the exact assessed value and levy rate for the address.
• Ask the seller or listing agent: Request the most recent tax bill and the assessed value used for that bill.
• Confirm escrow math: Have your lender show the monthly escrow estimate using the parcel tax numbers.

6. West Seattle context and local resources

Neighborhood notes. West Seattle contains a range of housing stock: cottages and bungalows near Alaska Junction, midcentury homes on Fauntleroy, and newer townhouses closer to the water at Alki. Parcel size and improvements can affect assessed value even for houses with similar listing prices.

Commuting and amenities. When budgeting for a West Seattle purchase consider other local costs: ferry or West Seattle Bridge detours can change commuting time, and proximity to Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, or The Junction correlates with differences in home types that show up on the assessor roll.

7. Questions buyers and sellers ask most often

How taxes affect listing decisions. Sellers sometimes provide recent tax bills in their disclosure packages. Buyers should request that bill early so they can incorporate taxes into affordability calculations. If you want help pulling the parcel levy breakdown I can run that for you.

Policy and development note. Local and national housing policy conversations influence levy proposals and bond measures. For context on city-level housing politics and building proposals that can influence future levies, see recent reporting on pro-housing campaigns.