911 Tax

What is the 911 tax?

It is a monthly tax on switched access (hard) lines and radio access (wireless telephone numbers) lines.

How do I pay the tax?

You pay the tax when you pay your phone bill. The tax is collected from the consumer and reported by the business on the excise tax return.

What rate do I pay?

The state rate is 20 cents per month for each switched or radio access line. The county may also charge a monthly fee.

Enhanced 911 tax extended.

Legislation extended the state and county enhanced 911 excise taxes to the use of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service lines and increases the state enhanced 911 excise tax to 25  cents per switched access line, radio access line and interconnected VoIP service lines.

For more information: Department of Revenue Special Notice, effective date Aug. 1, 2013.

What are the funds used for?

This tax funds Washington's enhanced 911 telephone system. This emergency system automatically provides a caller's name, address, and phone number to the 911 answering service.

Local funds are used for county emergency service communication systems.

For more information contact the E911 Financial Program Manager.