Property Taxes in Preston, Washington
Median Preston, Washington effective property tax rate: 1.04%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the Washington state median of 0.92%.
Median Preston, Washington home value: $1,230,000
Median annual Preston, Washington tax bill: $12,249, $9,849 higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in King calculated?
Property taxes in Preston, Washington are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Preston's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Preston, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Preston Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Preston property tax calculator to estimate your annual tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Preston's median effective tax rate of 1.04% — based on actual property records in King County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure used to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Preston's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Preston: rates range from 1.04% in 98050 to 1.04% in 98050, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts. Preston's median effective tax rate is higher than Washington's 0.92% state median and higher than the national median property tax rate of 1.02%. The median property tax bill in Preston is $12,249, which is higher than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
If your estimate is higher than expected, Ownwell can appeal your Preston assessment — you only pay if we save you money.
About Preston Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Preston, King, Washington
Preston’s median effective property tax rate of 1.04% is lower than the Washington state median of 0.92% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the King County base levy combined with local school district levies and Local improvement districts (LIDs) that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Preston. Homeowners in the 98050 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 1.04%, while those in 98050 pay 1.04%. This spread — 0 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across King County. Understanding which part of Preston you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Preston homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the July deadline each year.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Preston, King County, Washington
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Preston's effective property tax rate to other cities in Washington and the median property tax rates in Washington and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Preston Tax Rate
1.04%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective King County Tax Rate
0.99%
Median Effective Washington Tax Rate
0.92%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Preston, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98050 | 0.87% | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.06% | 1.09% |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston, King County, Washington
When examining property taxes in Preston, Washington, understanding the distinction between "market value" and "assessed value" is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. The King County appraisal district estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In King County, assessment notices are sent in July each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of July.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. By providing insights into how assessed and market values are determined, this section helps property owners navigate their tax responsibilities and understand the valuation processes affecting their property taxes in Preston.
For example, the median home price in Preston is $1,230,000, with tax bills ranging significantly across the county. 98050 has the highest median home price at $1,230,000.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston, King County, Washington
Source: Ownwell
$275,000
$3,858,750
$7,442,500
Median Preston Market Value
$1,230,000
Median King County Market Value
$774,000
Median Washington Market Value
$501,600
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Preston, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98050 | $509,400 | $738,500 | $1,230,000 | $1,660,000 | $2,021,800 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Property Tax Bills Across Preston, King County, Washington
Property tax bills in Preston are calculated by applying the local tax rate to the assessed value of a home, which is based on its market value and the taxing jurisdictions that fund local services. For homeowners in King County, the median home price is $1,230,000, and that value helps shape the final bill. The 25th percentile tax bill is $7,351, while the 75th percentile is $16,912 and the 90th percentile reaches $20,149, showing how quickly taxes can rise as assessed values increase.
What affects a property tax bill? The assessed value, exemptions, and local levy rates all play a role. When a home is overassessed, the bill can be higher than it should be, which can put extra pressure on homeowners.
Ownwell helps homeowners save by reviewing assessments, identifying savings opportunities, and filing appeals when a property is overvalued. That can lower the property tax bill and help homeowners keep more of their money.
Median Preston Tax Bill
$12,249
Median King County Tax Bill
$7,644
Median Washington Tax Bill
$4,512
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Preston, King County, Washington
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98050 | $4,581 | $7,351 | $12,249 | $16,912 | $20,149 |
Source: Ownwell
Save on Your Property Taxes and More With Ownwell
$774
Average Annual Tax Savings
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | July 1 |
| Tax Bill | |
| Issued | February 10 |
| Due Date #1 | April 30 |
| Due Date #2 | October 31 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| King Tax Assessor | |
| Phone | (206) 296-7300 |
| Website | blue.kingcounty.com |
| assessor.info@kingcounty.gov | |