Washington sales tax for salons
Are haircuts and salon services taxable in Washington?
No. Haircuts, nail services and facials are not subject to Washington retail sales tax: barber and beauty shops are not required to collect it on personal services such as hair cutting, and the Department of Revenue says nail and facial income is taxed under the B&O tax without collecting sales tax. Below: each kind of service, the products you sell, the rate and the permit a salon needs, each answered from the Washington State Department of Revenue's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026.
- Haircuts
- Not taxable
- Nails
- Not taxable
- Products you sell
- Taxable
- State rate
- 6.5%
Administered by Washington State Department of Revenue.The agency's page The state's own words
Services
Which salon services are taxable in Washington?
No. Haircuts, nail services and facials are not subject to Washington retail sales tax: barber and beauty shops are not required to collect it on personal services such as hair cutting, and the Department of Revenue says nail and facial income is taxed under the B&O tax without collecting sales tax.
- Hair services
- Not taxable
- Nail services
- Not taxable
- Skin care and waxing
- Not taxable
Hair services: haircuts, color, styling, perms and shaves. Nail services: manicures, pedicures and enhancements. Skin care: facials, waxing and other hair removal, and makeup.
Products
Do salons charge sales tax on products in Washington?
Yes. Products a salon sells to clients are subject to Washington sales tax, which the salon must collect at the rate for where the client receives the goods. The state rate is 6.5% plus local tax.
The rate
What is the sales tax rate in Washington?
- Statewide tax
- Retail sales tax
- State rate
- 6.5%
- Local sales taxes
- Yes, added by cities, counties or districts
The rate a client pays depends on the salon's address: look it up with the Washington State Department of Revenue.
The permit
Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Washington?
Business License. Apply for a Washington business license through the Department of Revenue's Business Licensing Wizard, since a salon that sells products must collect sales tax; the application fee varies and the Department does not publish a number on its pages.
- Registration
- Business License
- State fee
- Not stated
Good to know
What else Washington says about salons and sales tax
- Salons must pay sales or use tax on supplies they use up in services, such as shampoo, conditioner, nail polish and gloves.
- Rent a salon collects from chair or booth renters is not subject to sales tax, whether the charge is flat or a percentage of sales.
- Sales of hair, skin and nail care products and cosmetics are also subject to the state litter tax, which is reported on the excise tax return.
Sources
What Washington's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of the Washington State Department of Revenue's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026. This is not tax advice: rules and rates change, so confirm with the Washington State Department of Revenue or an accountant.
- Hair services
“therefore are not required to collect the retail sales tax from the customers paying for such services”
app.leg.wa.gov - Nail services
“Income from nail care services is taxable under the Service and Other Activities business and occupation (B&O) tax classification, and you do not have to collect sales tax.”
dor.wa.gov - Skin care and waxing
“Income from providing facials and skin care treatments is taxable under the Service and Other Activities business and occupation (B&O) tax classification, and you do not have to collect sales tax.”
dor.wa.gov - Products you sell
“Income from sales of products to your customers is generally taxable under the Retailing business and occupation (B&O) tax classification, and you must collect sales tax.”
dor.wa.gov - The tax and its rate
“Retail sales tax is due on the sale of certain goods and retail services, as described below.”
dor.wa.gov “The state tax rate is 6.5%.”
dor.wa.gov “The local tax rate varies by city and/or county.”
dor.wa.gov - The permit
“Register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:”
dor.wa.gov - The agency
“Beauty service professionals provide a variety of services to their clients.”
dor.wa.gov - Also good to know
“Generally, you must pay sales or use tax on any supplies you use in providing beauty and wellness services.”
dor.wa.gov - Also good to know
“Income from renting chairs or booths in your salon is taxable under the Service and Other Activities business and occupation (B&O) tax classification, and you do not have to collect sales tax.”
dor.wa.gov - Also good to know
“Sales of hair care products, skin care products, nail care products, and cosmetics are also subject to Litter Tax”
dor.wa.gov
Questions
Washington salon sales tax, answered
Are haircuts taxable in Washington?
Do nail salons charge sales tax in Washington?
Are facials and waxing taxable in Washington?
Do salons charge sales tax on products in Washington?
Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Washington?
What is the sales tax rate in Washington?
Plan the rest
Opening or running a salon in Washington
- Every step to opening a salon in Washington, as a checklist
- What Washington requires to license a salon
- What Washington inspectors check in a salon
- Salon point of sale systems compared, with card fees
Salon sales tax in other states
Ready when you are
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