Initiative 645State law · Citizen initiative
Repeal millionaires tax, ban income taxes
Explain it like I'm 5
This would cancel a planned tax on the part of a person's income above $1 million. It would also stop Washington state and local governments from creating personal income taxes, like locking a door against that kind of tax later.
Yes vote
Repealing the 9.9% tax on individual income above $1 million and prohibiting state and local individual income taxes.
No vote
Keeping the high-income tax and allowing future state or local income taxes if otherwise authorized.
The question to ask yourself
Is preventing all future personal income taxes more important than keeping projected revenue from a tax on income above $1 million?
The case for
- A permanent ban would protect Washington from future personal income taxes.
- Supporters say income taxes could discourage investment, entrepreneurship, and employers from staying in Washington.
- Repeal would preserve Washington's long-standing no-personal-income-tax approach.
Backed by: Let's Go Washington
The case against
- Repeal would remove projected revenue intended for education, health care, and other services.
- The tax targets income above $1 million rather than every dollar earned by a household.
- A broad ban would limit future options to reduce reliance on other taxes.
Opposed by: No on I-645 campaign, Washington Education Association, Washington State PTA
- Money
- The official estimate cited in the sources says repeal would reduce state revenue by $11.4 billion over fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
- Don't be misled
- It is misleading to say the tax takes 9.9% of all household income because it applies only to income above $1 million.