Washington · WA · Money & taxes

Washington: Are groceries taxed?

Groceries exempt

Washington exempts groceries from its state sales tax. Prepared food, soft drinks, bottled water and dietary supplements are taxed.

State law says the retail sales tax does not apply to food and food ingredients. The exemption does not cover prepared food, soft drinks, bottled water or dietary supplements. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are not counted as food.

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What the law says

The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of food and food ingredients.

RCW 82.08.0293

Sources

RCW 82.08.0293 Official · app.leg.wa.gov

Confirm with the state

Agency: Washington State Department of Revenue
Phone: 360-705-6705
Website: dor.wa.gov

How bordering states compare

Idaho Taxed at the full rateIdaho taxes groceries at its full 6% sales tax rate, offset in part by an income tax credit.
Oregon No state sales taxOregon has no general state sales tax, so groceries aren't taxed at the state level.

Last verified Oct 22, 2026 · Confidence: High · How we research · Report an error

High confidence: an official source names this explicitly, and the quote above shows it.

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