Sales tax in Tacoma will increase April 1

Yes, the sales tax in Tacoma is about to go up.

Although the increase is scheduled to begin on April 1, it’s not a joke.

“Shoppers in the city of Tacoma will pay one-tenth of one percent more in sales tax to a rate of 9.6 percent. The increase will help pay for transportation service in a new transportation benefit district,” the State Department of Revenue reported Thursday.

Taxpayers in other areas will also see an increase:

▪  Shoppers in Centralia will pay two-tenths of one percent more in sales and use tax to a tax rate of 8.2 percent. That increased sales tax will be used to support a new transportation benefit district.

▪  Consumers in unincorporated Clallam County will pay an 8.4 percent sales tax. That’s an increase of two-tenths of one percent, which the county will be able to use for general fund purposes.

▪  The sales tax rate in Clarkston will increase by two-tenths of one percent to a tax rate of 7.9 percent. That tax increase will be used to pay for transportation services within a new transportation benefit district.

▪  The sales tax rate in Enumclaw will rise by one-tenth of one percent to help pay for transportation services in a new transportation benefit district. Consumers in the city will now pay an 8.7 percent sales tax.

▪  The sales tax rate in both the cities and unincorporated areas of Pacific County will increase by one-tenth of one percent to 8 percent to help pay for emergency communication systems and facilities.

▪  Shoppers in the city of Shelton will pay two-tenths of one percent more in sales tax to a tax rate of 8.8 percent. That tax increase will be used to help pay for transportation services in a new transportation benefit district.

▪  The sales and use tax rate within the Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA) will increase three-tenths of one percent to help pay for transportation services.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Sales tax in Tacoma will increase April 1."