
Seattle's 2026 B&O Tax Overhaul: The $2 Million Shield and the $4,000 License Line
Seattle, Washington's 2026 B&O tax starts at $2 million, but $0 returns are still due; out-of-city sellers at or below $4,000 need no license.
#multi-state-tax
Multi-state tax compliance, nexus rules, and withholding requirements for businesses operating across state lines

Seattle, Washington's 2026 B&O tax starts at $2 million, but $0 returns are still due; out-of-city sellers at or below $4,000 need no license.

Gig pay lands on 1099-NEC, royalties on 1099-MISC, and the IRS taxes it all. US guide to scale vs. buyouts, fund payouts, and session deductions.

The federal W-4 doesn't cover state tax in most states — collect each hire's state certificate (CA DE 4, NY IT-2104) or withholding defaults to max.

The IRS lets employers withhold a flat 22% on bonuses up to $1M and 37% above it. That's withholding, not your tax rate; the gap settles when you file.

Kentucky HB 757 repealed the 200-transaction nexus test and made data brokering taxable at 6% on August 1, 2026 — re-test nexus before cancelling a permit.

W-2Gs report single wagers, not net profit. IRS lets you net wins per session, deduct losses only if you itemize under the 90% cap, and file where you bet.

No federal penalty ($0), but CA, MA, NJ, RI, and D.C. still charge $300–$4,908 per person — plus separate state employer filings.

California employers owe 1.8% FUTA for 2025 — $126 per employee instead of $42. Report the credit reduction on Schedule A of Form 940, due with the Q4 deposit.

Hawaii has no sales tax — the GET taxes your gross receipts at 4.5% including county surcharges, and 4.712% is the most you may legally show a customer.

Local payroll tax is the employer's liability, not the software's. Ohio's 20-day rule, Pennsylvania PSD codes, NYC resident-only tax and Yonkers' 0.5% levy.

Thirty-eight states exempt manufacturing machinery from sales tax, but the break works through exemption certificates you hand vendors, not automatic refunds. Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and the Dakotas tax equipment in full or at reduced rates, while repair parts, utilities, and missing paperwork trip up makers everywhere.

Oil and gas lease bonuses, delay rentals, and royalties are all ordinary income reported on Schedule E — but royalties qualify for 15% percentage depletion that can continue after your basis hits zero. How each payment is taxed, where it goes on your return, and the state traps to avoid.