Washington Counties with High Unemployment May Qualify for Sales Tax Deferral
- Jul 15, 2014 | Gail Cole

Washington State allows a sales and use tax deferral for counties with high rates of unemployment. The High Unemployment County Sales/Use Tax Deferral Program “grants a deferral of sales/use tax on purchases of qualifying machinery, equipment and construction” to certain approved businesses.
In order to qualify for this exemption, businesses must be:
- Located in qualifying counties or Community Empowerment Zones (CEZs); and
- Engaged in the business of manufacturing, research and development laboratories, commercial testing facilities, or vegetable seed conditioning.
The following counties are eligible to apply for the High Unemployment County Sales/Use Tax Deferral Program between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016:
- Clallam County
- Clark County
- Columbia County
- Cowlitz County
- Ferry County
- Grays Harbor County
- Klickitat County
- Lewis County
- Mason County
- Pacific County
- Pend Oreille County
- Skamania County
- Stevens County
- Wahkiakum County
- Yakima County
The High Unemployment County Sales/Use Tax Deferral Program expires on July 1, 2020. Additional information is available on a Washington Department of Revenue website.
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