A campaign to repeal Washington’s newly enacted income tax has taken a major step toward appearing on the November general election ballot.
Supporters of Initiative 645 submitted 511,408 signatures to the Washington Secretary of State on July 2, well above the 308,911 valid signatures required to qualify. Election officials will now verify the petitions, a process expected to take about two weeks. If enough signatures are validated, voters will decide the measure in the Nov. 3 election.
The initiative would repeal the State’s recently approved 9.9 percent tax on adjusted gross income above $1 million for Washington households. The tax, approved by the Legislature earlier this year, is scheduled to take effect in 2028, with revenue collections beginning in 2029 if it remains in place. Lawmakers estimate the tax would generate between $3 billion and $4 billion annually to support the state operating budget, including funding for K-12 education, higher education, health care, corrections, foster care, childcare, and early learning programs.
Supporters of Initiative 645 argue the measure will give voters the opportunity to reject what they view as a new state income tax and have raised concerns about future expansion of the policy. Opponents contend that repealing the tax would reduce funding for public services while leaving other tax relief measures in place, creating a significant budget gap.
The proposal is also the subject of separate legal challenges filed by business owners who question its constitutionality under longstanding Washington Supreme Court precedent regarding income taxes. Those cases are expected to proceed independently of the ballot measure.
