Initiative 645
Repeal of State Income Tax on High Earners and Prohibition on Individual Income Taxes Initiative
On the ballot
Washington · November 2026 general election · Citizen initiative · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Taxes and revenue
In plain language
Initiative 645 would repeal Washington's new 9.9 percent tax on individual income above $1,000,000 a year before it takes effect on January 1, 2028, and would prohibit the state and any city, county, or local jurisdiction from taxing individual income going forward. The tax it targets, enacted by the Legislature in 2026, is intended to fund school meals, childcare, and other programs. The state's Office of Financial Management estimates repeal would cut state revenue by about $11.4 billion from 2027 through 2031, reducing funding largely for K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services.
Fiscal impact
The Washington Office of Financial Management's fiscal impact statement estimates the initiative would reduce state revenue by $11,432,414,000 across state fiscal years 2027-2031, drawn from the state general fund, the federal general fund, and the fair start for kids account, with the first collections lost starting in state fiscal year 2029. It also projects a net state agency savings of about $150.5 million over the same five years from ending implementation of the repealed tax.
Summarized from the official fiscal analysis listed in the sources below. Figures are the state's, not this site's.
What supporters and opponents say
These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.
What supporters say
- Brian Heywood, founder of Let's Go Washington, which filed and funded the initiative, says the new tax "is going to hit the economy" and that repeal is meant to stop the state from expanding taxation to other income levels: "It's not about rich guys. This is about unlocking the gate so they can tax everybody."
What opponents say
- Gov. Bob Ferguson, who joined the "No on 645" campaign, says the choice is "between the future and the past" and that he would veto any future legislation lowering the tax's $1 million threshold, since the revenue is committed by law to specific programs.
- The "No on 645" campaign, backed by the Washington Education Association, SEIU-affiliated unions, and the Washington Federation of State Employees, argues repeal would open an estimated $13 billion hole in the state budget, with roughly half of that tied to school funding, and would roll back expanded school meals, childcare and early-learning funding, and the Working Families Tax Credit.
Reproduced verbatim from the state's certified ballot text.
Initiative Measure No. IP26-645 concerns state and local taxes. This measure would repeal a 9.9% tax on annual individual income over $1,000,000; prohibit taxes measured by individual income and taxes on individual income or the receipt of individual income; and define "income." This measure would decrease funding for public K-12 education, higher education (including universities and community colleges), and human services (primarily healthcare). Should this measure be enacted into law?
Sources
Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.
- Washington Office of Financial Management — Fiscal Impact Statement for Initiative 645
- Washington Attorney General — Public Investment Impact Disclosure and Ballot Title for Initiative IP26-645
- Washington Secretary of State — Proposed Ballot Measure Information
- KOMO News — Washington millionaires tax repeal, I-645, will appear on November ballot
- KOMO News — Ferguson, organized labor launch No on I-645 campaign
- The Spokesman-Review — Court rebuffs attempt to ax ballot statement on WA income tax measure's budget effects
- Ballotpedia News — Washington voters to decide on an initiative to repeal legislation establishing an income tax for households earning over $1 million and ban income taxes in general
Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.