NSNexus by State

California vs Washington Sales Tax Nexus — Comparison 2026

Updated

Compare economic nexus thresholds, state and local rates, and filing rules in California and Washington.

MetricCaliforniaWashington
Economic nexus threshold$500,000$100,000
Transaction thresholdNoneNone
State rate7.25%6.50%
Avg. local rate1.74%3.01%
Combined state + local8.99%9.51%
Marketplace facilitatorYesYes
Effective since2019-04-012020-01-01

Which state is easier for sellers?

For low-revenue sellers: nexus triggers first in Washington because of its $100,000 threshold. If you cross that first, you register there first.

On rate: California is friendlier for customers with a combined state + local rate of 8.99% vs 9.51%.

Neither state has a transaction-count trigger — only the dollar threshold matters.

California — nexus note

California sales tax nexus and economic nexus threshold: CDTFA guidance says remote retailers must register and collect California use tax when total combined sales of tangible personal property for delivery into California exceed $500,000 during the preceding or current calendar year. California uses a sales-only threshold — no transaction-count test. AB 147 replaced the earlier $100,000/200-transaction Wayfair threshold with the current $500,000 standard, and related-person sales count toward the threshold. CDTFA marketplace guidance says sellers include both direct California sales and marketplace-facilitated sales when testing the $500,000 threshold, but sellers whose California sales are entirely facilitated by registered marketplace facilitators may not need separate registration for those marketplace transactions. Direct-to-consumer sales outside a marketplace remain the seller's own collection responsibility once California nexus is met.

Washington — nexus note

Washington sales tax nexus and economic nexus threshold: $100,000 in gross receipts sourced or attributed to Washington in the current or prior year (eff. 2020-01-01). The transaction-count threshold was eliminated when this unified threshold took effect. Crossing the threshold registers a remote seller for both retail sales tax AND Business & Occupation (B&O) tax — Washington classifies remote-seller revenue under the Retailing B&O classification, and a "No Local Activity" deduction is available when the seller has no in-state physical B&O nexus. Marketplace facilitator law (RCW 82.08.0531; marketplace facilitator defined at RCW 82.08.010(15)) applies the same $100,000 Washington-receipts threshold to marketplaces — Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Walmart collect and remit Washington sales tax on third-party transactions they facilitate, and have provided monthly Washington-sales reports to their sellers since 2019-07-01. Direct-to-consumer Washington sales you make outside any marketplace continue to count toward your own $100,000 economic-nexus calculation.

What to do next

Use the nexus calculator to check exactly which of California and Washington you've already triggered. Then read each state's full guide:

California overview →Washington overview →

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the lower sales tax nexus threshold, California or Washington?
Washington has the lower economic nexus threshold at $100,000, versus $500,000 in California. A seller's Washington sales would reach the published Washington threshold first. These are the thresholds published by each state's tax authority as of 2026-05-26; confirm against the official source before registering.
Do both California and Washington have marketplace facilitator laws?
Yes. Both California and Washington have marketplace facilitator laws, so marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay collect and remit sales tax on the sales they facilitate in both states. Direct-to-consumer sales you make outside a marketplace remain your own responsibility once you cross each state's threshold. Verified 2026-05-26.
Which has the lower sales tax rate, California or Washington?
California has the lower combined state and local sales tax rate at 8.99%, compared with 9.51% in Washington. These are the statewide base rate plus the average local rate; the exact rate depends on the customer's delivery address. As of 2026-05-26.
Do I need to register for sales tax in both California and Washington?
It depends on where you cross each state's economic nexus threshold (or have physical presence there). California's published threshold is $500,000, and Washington's is $100,000. You generally register in a state only once you cross its threshold, so you may have an obligation in one, both, or neither. Run the nexus calculator with your actual sales and confirm with each state's official source. Thresholds as of 2026-05-26.
When did economic nexus take effect in California and Washington?
California's economic nexus rule took effect on 2019-04-01, and Washington's took effect on 2020-01-01. Both stem from the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, which let states require remote sellers to collect once an economic threshold is met.

Sources

date_retrieved: California 2026-05-21 · Washington 2026-05-26