Seattle Tax Advisory Group

About the Seattle Tax Advisory Group

The Seattle Tax Advisory Group:

  • Provides a forum for the City of Seattle and the business community to discuss tax administration and policy.
  • Provides a taxpayer perspective on specific tax issues.
  • Assists in the development of tax policy.
  • Identifies Seattle tax administration improvements.

City Finance's License and Tax Administration division leads the tax advisory group.

Membership guidelines

The City selects tax advisory group members. To better reflect the Seattle business community, representation is proportional between corporations and small businesses. Members do not advocate interests or positions specific to their own organizations but instead provide objective expertise.

The tax advisory group is limited to 10 members. Additionally, members:

  • Serve for two years.
  • Serve voluntarily and may ask to be replaced at any time.
  • Meet on a quarterly basis.
  • Approve meeting minutes, which are posted publicly on this website.

Member duties

The Seattle Tax Advisory Group provides recommendations to the City finance director on tax policies, programs and procedures. The group reviews existing policies as well as emerging issues. It also provides constructive observations about tax impact on businesses. Over the course of a two-year term, group members consider a broad range of issues and provide recommendations that have substantive effect on policy implementation.

Decision-making process

Tax advisory group meetings are facilitated, informal discussions of issues and options. City staff provides background information that the group uses as the basis for its recommendations. The group aims for consensus. If there is no consensus, members provide a range of options for the City finance director to consider.

The City finance director has the final decision-making authority. If the director does not follow the tax advisory group recommendation, he will provide a detailed explanation. All decisions and meeting minutes are published on this website and distributed to the advisory group.

Tax advisory group documents

Seattle Tax Advisory Group charter

Seattle Tax Advisory Group work plan

Meeting minutes:

Office of City Finance

Jamie Carnell, Director
Address: 700 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 94669, Seattle, WA, 98124-4669
ocf@seattle.gov

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City Finance manages the financial operations of the City of Seattle and oversees the City’s financial controls and enterprise reporting while working to achieve the goals set by the Mayor and the City Council.