RCW 84.36.110
Household goods and personal effects—Fifteen thousand dollars actual value to head of family.
The following property shall be exempt from taxation:
(1) All household goods and furnishings in actual use by the owner thereof in equipping and outfitting his or her residence or place of abode and not for sale or commercial use, and all personal effects held by any person for his or her exclusive use and benefit and not for sale or commercial use.
(2) The personal property, other than specified in subsection (1) of this section, of each head of a family liable to assessment and taxation of which the individual is the actual and bona fide owner to an amount of fifteen thousand dollars of true and fair value. This exemption shall not apply to any private motor vehicle or mobile home. If the county assessor is satisfied that all of the personal property of any person is exempt from taxation under the provisions of this statute or any other statute providing exemptions for personal property, no listing of such property shall be required. However, if the personal property described in this subsection exceeds in value the amount allowed as exempt, then a complete list of said personal property shall be made as provided by law, and the county assessor shall deduct the amount of the exemption authorized by this subsection from the total amount of the assessment and impose taxes on the remainder.
[ 2006 c 281 § 2; 1988 c 10 § 1; 1971 ex.s. c 299 § 71; 1961 c 15 § 84.36.110. Prior: 1935 c 27 § 1; RRS § 11111-7.]
NOTES:
Contingent effective date—2006 c 281: "This act takes effect January 1, 2007, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution authorizing an increased personal exemption for the head of a family is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at the next general election. If the proposed amendment is not approved and ratified, this act is void in its entirety." [ 2006 c 281 § 3.]
Finding—Intent—2006 c 281: "The legislature finds that it is in the public interest of the people of the state of Washington to ease the burden of property taxes paid by the head of a family. To achieve this purpose, this act increases the amount of personal property exemption for the head of a family from three thousand dollars to fifteen thousand dollars. The last time this exemption was increased was 1988. It is the clear and unambiguous intent of the legislature that the property described within this measure shall be exempt for [from] taxation, as authorized by Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution." [ 2006 c 281 § 1.]
Contingent effective date—1988 c 10: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1989, for taxes levied for collection in 1990 and thereafter, if the proposed amendment to Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution authorizing an increased personal exemption for the head of a family (HJR 4222) is validly submitted to and is approved and ratified by the voters at a general election held in November 1988. If the proposed amendment is not so approved and ratified, this act shall be null and void in its entirety." [ 1988 c 10 § 2.] The proposed constitutional amendment was approved by the voters on November 8, 1988.
Effective date—1971 ex.s. c 299: See RCW 82.50.901(3).
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 299: See note following RCW 82.04.050.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
84.36.005 - Property subject to taxation.
84.36.010 - Public, certain public-private and tribal property exempt.
84.36.012 - Tribal property exemption—Application.
84.36.015 - Property valued at less than five hundred dollars—Exceptions.
84.36.020 - Cemeteries, churches, parsonages, convents, and grounds.
84.36.031 - Clarification of exemption in RCW 84.36.030.
84.36.032 - Administrative offices of nonprofit religious organizations.
84.36.035 - Property used by qualifying blood, tissue, or blood and tissue banks.
84.36.041 - Nonprofit homes for the aging.
84.36.046 - Nonprofit cancer clinic or center.
84.36.049 - Nonprofit homeownership development.
84.36.050 - Schools and colleges.
84.36.070 - Intangible personal property—Appraisal.
84.36.079 - Rights, title, interest, and materials of certain vessels under construction.
84.36.080 - Certain ships and vessels.
84.36.090 - Exemption for other ships and vessels.
84.36.100 - Size of vessel immaterial.
84.36.105 - Cargo containers used in ocean commerce.
84.36.120 - Household goods and personal effects—Definitions.
84.36.133 - Aircraft owned and operated by a commuter air carrier.
84.36.135 - Real and personal property of housing finance commission.
84.36.210 - Public right-of-way easements.
84.36.230 - Interstate bridges—Reciprocity.
84.36.240 - Soil and water conservation districts, personal property.
84.36.250 - Water distribution property owned by nonprofit corporation or cooperative association.
84.36.262 - Cessation of use giving rise to exemption.
84.36.264 - Application for exemption under RCW 84.36.260, conservation of ecological systems.
84.36.301 - Legislative finding and declaration for RCW 84.36.300.
84.36.310 - Requirements for exemption under RCW 84.36.300.
84.36.320 - Inspection of books and records for exemption under RCW 84.36.300.
84.36.350 - Property owned and used for sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities.
84.36.379 - Residences—Property tax exemption—Findings.
84.36.381 - Residences—Property tax exemptions—Qualifications.
84.36.383 - Residences—Definitions.
84.36.387 - Residences—Claimants—Penalty for falsification—Reduction by remainderman.
84.36.389 - Residences—Rules and regulations—Audits—Confidentiality—Criminal penalty.
84.36.400 - Improvements to single-family dwellings.
84.36.451 - Right to occupy or use certain public property, including leasehold interests.
84.36.470 - Agricultural products—Exemption.
84.36.477 - Business inventories.
84.36.480 - Nonprofit fair associations.
84.36.500 - Conservation futures on agricultural land.
84.36.510 - Mobile homes in dealer's inventory.
84.36.570 - Nonprofit organizations—Property used for agricultural research and education programs.
84.36.590 - Property used in connection with privatization contract at Hanford reservation.
84.36.595 - Motor vehicles, travel trailers, campers, and vehicles carrying exempt licenses.
84.36.597 - Heavy equipment rental property.
84.36.600 - Computer software.
84.36.605 - Sales/leasebacks by regional transit authorities.
84.36.630 - Farming machinery and equipment.
84.36.635 - Property used for the operation of an anaerobic digester.
84.36.640 - Property used for the manufacture of wood biomass fuel.
84.36.645 - Semiconductor materials.
84.36.650 - Property used by certain nonprofits to solicit or collect money for artists.
84.36.655 - Property related to the manufacture of superefficient airplanes.
84.36.660 - Installation of automatic sprinkler system under RCW 19.27.500 through 19.27.520.
84.36.675 - Housing for low-income households provided by limited equity cooperatives.
84.36.810 - Cessation of use under which exemption granted—Collection of taxes.
84.36.812 - Additional tax payable at time of sale—Appeal of assessed values.
84.36.813 - Change in use—Duty to notify county assessor—Examination—Recommendation.
84.36.815 - Tax exempt status—Initial application—Renewal.
84.36.820 - Renewal notice for exempt property—Failure to file before due date, effect.
84.36.825 - Late filing penalty.
84.36.830 - Review of applications for exemption—Procedure—Approval or denial—Notice.
84.36.833 - Application for exemption or renewal may include all contiguous exempt property.
84.36.835 - List of exempt properties to be prepared and furnished each county assessor.
84.36.840 - Statements—Reports—Information—Filing—Requirements.
84.36.845 - Revocation of exemption approved or renewed due to inaccurate information.
84.36.855 - Property changing from exempt to taxable status—Procedure.
84.36.860 - Public notice of provisions of act.
84.36.865 - Rules and regulations.
84.36.905 - Effective date—Construction—1973 2nd ex.s. c 40.