HB 2224: Excise tax system
Investing in education and essential public services by modifying and improving the fairness of Washington's excise tax system by enacting an excise tax on capital gains, narrowing or eliminating tax preferences, reinstating a previously expired business and occupation surtax while increasing the small business tax credit, and implementing marketplace fairness in Washington.
Summary
- Imposes a 5 percent tax on capital gains.
- Reinstates the 0.3 percent business and occupation (B&O) surtax on service businesses.
- Increases the small business credit for service businesses.
- Eliminates the preferential B&O tax rate of 0.275 percent for travel agents and tour operators.
- Eliminates the preferential B&O tax rate of 0.138 percent for resellers of prescription drugs.
- Repeals the sales and use tax exemption for bottled water.
From the House Bill Analysis 2015 (HB 2224), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗
- IntroducedMar 30, 2015
- Out of committeestopped here
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Governor
- Law
- Prime sponsor
- Senator (D-36)
- Introduced
- March 30, 2015 in the House
- Last action
- March 10, 2016
- Budget
- Has a fiscal note
AN ACT Relating to investing in education and essential public services by modifying and improving the fairness of Washington's excise tax system by enacting an excise tax on capital gains, narrowing or eliminating tax preferences, reinstating a previously expired business and occupation surtax while increasing the small business tax credit, and implementing marketplace fairness in Washington;
Sponsors
Prime sponsor: Senator (D-36)
4 co-sponsors (4 Democrats, 0 Republicans)
Votes
No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.
History
- By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- First reading, referred to Finance (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report).
HB 2224 in other sessions
Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.
- HB 2224 (2025–26) Fire protection districts
- HB 2224 (2023–24) Child abuse referral tool
- HB 2224 (2019–20) Ballot measure fiscal impact
- HB 2224 (2017–18) High school graduation reqs
- HB 2224 (2013–14) Capital sup budget 2013-2015
- HB 2224 (2011–12) Estate tax apportionment
- HB 2224 (2009–10) Fire sprinkler systems
- HB 2224 (2007–08) Gang-related offenses