The median property tax in Whatcom County, Washington is $2,173 per year for a home worth the median value of $293,500. Whatcom County collects, on average, 0.74% of a property's assessed fair market value as property tax.
Whatcom County has one of the highest median property taxes in the United States, and is ranked 375th of the 3143 counties in order of median property taxes.
The average yearly property tax paid by Whatcom County residents amounts to about 3.36% of their yearly income. Whatcom County is ranked 428th of the 3143 counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.
You can use the Washington property tax map to the left to compare Whatcom County's property tax to other counties in Washington. King County collects the highest property tax in Washington, levying an average of $3,572.00 (0.88% of median home value) yearly in property taxes, while Ferry County has the lowest property tax in the state, collecting an average tax of $941.00 (0.64% of median home value) per year.
To compare Whatcom County with property tax rates in other states, see our map of property taxes by state.
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Because Whatcom County uses a complicated formula to determine the property tax owed on any individual property, it's not possible to condense it to a simple tax rate, like you could with an income or sales tax.
Instead, we provide property tax information based on the statistical median of all taxable properties in Whatcom County. The median property tax amount is based on the median Whatcom County property value of $293,500. You can use these numbers as a reliable benchmark for comparing Whatcom County's property taxes with property taxes in other areas.
Our data allows you to compare Whatcom County's property taxes by median property tax in dollars, median property tax as a percentage of home value, and median property tax as a percentage of the Whatcom County median household income.
Whatcom County Property Taxes| Median Property Tax | As Percentage Of Income | As Percentage Of Property Value |
| $2,173 ± $52 (375th of 3143) | 3.36 ± 0.12% (428th of 3143) | 0.74 ± 0.02% (1660th of 3143) |
Note: This page provides general information about property taxes in Whatcom County. If you need specific tax information or property records about a property in Whatcom County, contact the Whatcom County Tax Assessor's Office.
While the exact property tax rate you will pay is set by the tax assessor on a property-by-property basis, you can use our Whatcom County property tax estimator tool to estimate your yearly property tax. Our property tax estimates are based on the median property tax levied on similar houses in the Whatcom County area.
Property taxes are managed on a county level by the local tax assessor's office. If you need to find out the exact amount of your property tax bill or find other specific information, you can contact the Whatcom County Tax Assessor .
Disclaimer: Please note that we can only estimate your Whatcom County property tax based on average property taxes in your area. Every locality uses a unique property tax assessment method. Your actual property tax burden will depend on the details and features of each individual property.
Whatcom County calculates the property tax due based on the fair market value of the home or property in question, as determined by the Whatcom County Property Tax Assessor. Each property is individually t each year, and any improvements or additions made to your property may increase its appraised value.
As a property owner, you have the right to appeal the property tax amount you are charged and request a reassessment if you believe that the value determined by the Whatcom County Tax Assessor's office is incorrect. To appeal the Whatcom County property tax, you must contact the Whatcom County Tax Assessor's Office.
Are You Paying Too Much Property Tax?Statistics show that about 25% of homes in America are unfairly overassessed, and pay an average of $1,346 too much in property taxes every year.
We can check your property's current assessment against similar properties in Whatcom County and tell you if you've been overassessed. If you have been overassessed, we can help you submit a tax appeal.
Is your Whatcom County property overassessed?
You will be provided with a property tax appeal form, on which you will provide the tax assessor's current appraisal of your property as well as your proposed appraisal and a description of why you believe your appraisal is more accurate.
Previous appraisals, expert opinions, and appraisals for similar properties may be attached to the appeal as supporting documentation. If your appeal is successful, your property will be reassessed at a lower valuation and your Whatcom County property taxes will be lowered accordingly.
If your appeal is denied, you still have the option to re-appeal the decision. If no further administrative appeals can be made, you can appeal your Whatcom County tax assessment in court.
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The Whatcom County Tax Assessor is responsible for assessing the fair market value of properties within Whatcom County and determining the property tax rate that will apply. The Tax Assessor's office can also provide property tax history or property tax records for a property. These property tax records are excellent sources of information when buying a new property or appealing a recent appraisal.
Most county assessors' offices are located in or near the county courthouse or the local county administration building. You can look up the Whatcom County Assessor's contact information here (opens in external website).
Proceeds from the Whatcom County Personal Property Tax are used locally to fund school districts, public transport, infrastructure, and other municipal government projects. Property tax income is almost always used for local projects and services, and does not go to the federal or state budget.
Unlike other taxes which are restricted to an individual, the Whatcom County Property Tax is levied directly on the property. Unpaid property tax can lead to a property tax lien, which remains attached to the property's title and is the responsibility of the current owner of the property. Tax liens are not affected by transferring or selling the property, or even filing for bankruptcy. Property tax delinquency can result in additional fees and interest, which are also attached to the property title.
In cases of extreme property tax delinquency, the Whatcom County Tax Board may seize the delinquent property and offer it for sale at a public tax foreclosure auction, often at a price well under market value. Proceeds of the sale first go to pay the property's tax lien, and additional proceeds may be remitted to the original owner.
For properties considered the primary residence of the taxpayer, a homestead exemption may exist. The Whatcom County Homestead Exemption can reduce the appraised valuation of a primary residence before calculating the property tax owed, resulting in a lower annual property tax rate for owner-occupied homes.
Getting a Homestead Exemption may also help protect your home from being repossessed in the case of a property tax lien due to unpaid Whatcom County property taxes or other types of other debt.
In most counties, you must specifically submit a homestead exemption application to your county tax assessor in order to enjoy the tax reduction and other benefits available. To get a copy of the Whatcom County Homestead Exemption Application, call the Whatcom County Assessor's Office and ask for details on the homestead exemption program. You can also ask about other exemptions that may exist for veterans, seniors, low-income families, or property used for certain purposes such as farmland or open space.
You can usually deduct 100% of your Whatcom County property taxes from your taxable income on your Federal Income Tax Return as an itemized deduction. Washington may also let you deduct some or all of your Whatcom County property taxes on your Washington income tax return.
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