financeconservative

Laundry Service Taxes Explained Simply

WashingtonWednesday, May 13, 2026

The state tax office has issued updated guidance on how laundry businesses must handle taxes, covering both the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax and retail sales tax.

Key Points

  • Eight Service Categories
    The guidance lists eight types of services, including:
  • Changing clothes
  • Cleaning clothes
  • Supplying linens

  • B&O Tax Classification
    Most of these services fall under the retail category for B&O tax purposes.

  • Separate Sales Tax
    Customers must pay an additional sales tax when purchasing a service.

Special Cases

  • Wholesale Transactions
    If a laundry shop sells to another business for resale, different rules apply.

  • Other Activities
  • Picking up and dropping off clothes
  • Selling items from a vending machine
    Each of these has its own tax rules.

Practical Takeaway

Laundry businesses need to:

  1. Identify which taxes apply to each service.
  2. Keep accurate records.
  3. Follow the new rules closely to avoid penalties.

Actions