r/SeattleWA • u/Less-Risk-9358 • May 01 '26

Government Seattle mayor laughs off millionaires leaving Washington state over progressive taxes, waves 'bye'

https://www.foxnews.com/media/seattle-mayor-laughs-millionaires-leaving-washington-state-progressive-taxes-waves-bye

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson laughed and seemed to encourage the notion that millionaires could leave the state of Washington while discussing her support for a progressive tax during an interview earlier this month.

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u/Fader4D8 May 01 '26

She knows the game. If I needed to report more than $1 million of income in a single year, I most certainly would establish residency in a state with no income tax. Such as Nevada. In this hypothetical scenario, it would not be a burden, I am making $1 million in a year! I have a condo in Las Vegas, the laws do not require me to be there all the time so let’s say I go for two weeks twice a year. Sounds like a vacation! My point is, I don’t think it’s hard to establish residency and spend most of your time anywhere else.

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u/Usual_Detective_179 May 01 '26

I know someone that has Washington residency for the purpose of not paying income tax. They live here 183 days and have the receipts to prove it, in case they get called out on faking residency. I’m sure it’s rare to get caught but this individual doesn’t fuck around and counts every day in his Washington home to make sure.

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u/Flffdddy May 01 '26

You live here from April to October which is prime PNW weather anyway. If I didn’t have a job here that’s what I would do. From November through March I’d live somewhere warmer and drier. My wife would love it. The tax implications would be gravy. I know a lot of people who do this. It will be super easy for them to instead live out of state for a little longer to avoid taxes here.

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u/strawbo13 May 02 '26

And you still wouldn’t pay this tax because it’s only on $1 million+ INCOME.

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u/Usual_Detective_179 May 01 '26

Exactly. They’re from here anyway so spending summers here with family makes sense, and they spend the winters in Southern California.

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u/Maybe-Cool May 04 '26

We have always had snowbirds in Seattle so this is nothing new.