Initiative · every Washington voter

Initiative IP26-645: Income tax repealRepeal the new 9.9% tax on income over $1 million and ban income taxes

Initiative to the People (citizen-proposed law): Initiative Measure No. IP26-645, placed on the ballot by voters who signed petitions (Initiative Measure No. IP26-645). Passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.

Read the full text of the measure: Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF)

In plain words

In 2026 the Legislature passed a 9.9% tax on the part of a household's yearly income above $1 million, starting in 2028. This measure repeals that tax before it begins. It also says the state, counties and cities may not tax a person's income at all. The sales tax and business tax cuts passed alongside the income tax would stay. (sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State) )

Before and after

Question	Today	If it passes
Tax on yearly income over $1 million	9.9%, starting in 2028 (law passed in 2026)	Repealed; never takes effect
Income under $1 million per household	Not taxed	Not taxed
Future state or local income taxes	Lawmakers can pass one	Not allowed by this law
Sales tax breaks on diapers, over-the-counter drugs and hygiene products, and small-business tax cuts passed in 2026	In law	Stay in law
State money for 2027-2031 (estimate)	Expected from the tax	About $11.4 billion less

Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State) )

Example

Illustration only: a household with $1.5 million of income in 2028 would owe 9.9% on the $500,000 above $1 million, or $49,500 (before any charitable deduction), under today's law. If the measure passes, it owes $0 in state income tax. A household with $200,000 of income owes $0 either way. (sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State) )

Biggest change

Repeals the 9.9% tax on individual income over $1,000,000 (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6346, 2026), which was set to start in calendar year 2028. source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Bars the state and local governments from taxing individual income or its receipt. source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Defines "income" for tax purposes as "any gain or benefit measured in money derived from an individual's capital, labor, property, or other source." source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Keeps the non-income tax credits, exemptions and deductions passed with the tax in 2026, such as the sales tax exemptions for diapers, over-the-counter drugs and hygiene products and the larger small-business credit. source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)

Who it affects most: Households with more than $1 million of income a year, who would pay the tax, and the schools, colleges, health care and child care programs the money was set to help pay for.

Cost to the state: The state's Office of Financial Management estimates the state would collect about $11.43 billion less over July 2026 to June 2031, including $377 million less for child care and early learning. Local government money is not affected.

Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.

What your vote means

YES

The 9.9% tax on income over $1 million is repealed before it starts in 2028, and the state and local governments may not tax personal income.

The 9.9% tax on household income over $1 million starts in 2028 as passed by the Legislature.

Our one-line summary. Washington does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.

Why people want it, and why others object

Why this is on the ballot

Voters put this on the ballot by signing a petition. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the income tax law (ESSB 6346) on March 30, 2026. It was written to start in 2028. The Washington Supreme Court upheld a ruling that it could not be sent to voters by referendum because it supports state government, so opponents used an initiative instead. source: news.ballotpedia.org
Let's Go Washington turned in more than 500,000 signatures; more than 300,000 valid ones were needed. The Secretary of State certified the measure on July 15, 2026. source: komonews.com
The Department of Revenue estimates the tax would raise about $2.7 billion in its first year. Under the law, 5% goes to a child care and early learning account and the rest to the state general fund. source: opb.org

Why supporters want it

The official voters' pamphlet argument for, written by State Sen. Chris Gildon (R-Puyallup), Jesse Proudman, Patti Mann, Viet Nguyen, Semmelle Abraham and Julie H. Olds: "Over the last 90 years, Washingtonians have rejected an income tax ten times" and "Voting Yes repeals the new income tax before it begins, preserves the Working Families Tax Credit". source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
The same argument says lawmakers could widen the tax later: "An income tax on anyone will become an income tax on everyone." source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Brian Heywood, founder of Let's Go Washington: "This is going to hit the economy," and "It's not about rich guys," arguing the tax could later reach everyone. source: komonews.com

Why opponents object

The official voters' pamphlet argument against, written by Janie White (Washington Education Association), Matt Hipp, Rosa Potts, April Sims (Washington State Labor Council), Thom Garrard and Lindsay Johnson: "I-645 is fiscally irresponsible, slashing billions in funding for education and healthcare" and "That means larger class sizes, higher costs for healthcare and childcare". source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
The same argument says the measure would cut $13 billion over four years and raise taxes on 460,000 families by putting the 2026 tax cuts at risk. source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Gov. Bob Ferguson, at the No on 645 launch: "It's a choice between the future and the past." source: komonews.com

Who backs each side

For: Let's Go Washington, founded by Brian Heywood, which sponsored the measure. Against: the No on 645 campaign (no645.com), joined by Gov. Bob Ferguson, SEIU, the Washington Education Association and the Washington State Labor Council. Public Disclosure Commission records showed SEIU had given $1 million to the No side as of July 14, 2026. source: komonews.com

In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.

What you will see on your ballot

Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)

The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF) .

Initiative Measure No. IP26-645 concerns state and local taxes.
This measure would repeal a 9.9% tax on annual individual income over $1,000,000; prohibit taxes measured by individual income and taxes on individual income or the receipt of individual income; and define “income.” This measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education (including universities and community colleges), and human services (primarily healthcare).

Should this measure be enacted into law?
Yes
No

Copied word for word from the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet. Washington ballot titles have three parts: what the measure concerns, a short description, and the question.

Latest news

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Full text of the measure

The complete text of the measure is printed at the back of the state Voters' Pamphlet. Read it in the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF) .

We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.