Updated October 4, 2026. Quick answer: No. The Department of Revenue says “Washington does not currently have an individual income tax.” The Department adds that “a new 9.9% income tax will apply to individuals and married couples” with annual adjusted gross income above $1 million, beginning in 2028.
How Washington treats military retired pay
| Item | What the documents say |
|---|---|
| Treatment | No individual income tax today, so no tax on military retired pay |
| Starting January 1, 2028 | A 9.9% tax on adjusted gross income above $1 million (Senate Bill 6346), first returns due April 2029 |
| Open question | The pages read do not say how military retired pay counts toward that adjusted gross income |
A $30,000 example
A retiree with $30,000 of military retired pay owes Washington $0 of income tax on it today, and is nowhere near the $1 million line.
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What changes in 2026
The 2026 Legislature set a 9.9% tax on adjusted gross income above $1 million, effective January 1, 2028, not 2026. Nothing in the pages read changes the tax on retired pay in 2026.
Federal rules
The state’s treatment sits on top of the federal one. The IRS explains the federal side in Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide.
Related: whether Washington taxes pensions, how Washington taxes retirement income, military retirement pay by state, and the military retirement calculator.
Sources
- Income tax: https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/income-tax
- Frequently asked questions about income tax: https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/income-tax/frequently-asked-questions-about-income-tax
Sources: the primary documents linked above, read on October 4, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a preparer, the plan administrator or the agency itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.