Exemption
Digital automated service - data processing
Retail Sales & Use Tax exemption · RCW 82.04.192(3)(b)(xv) · enacted 2010
Before ESSB 5814
Data processing delivered as a digital automated service was excluded from the definition of "retail sale" under RCW 82.04.192(3)(b) and was reported under the service & other activities B&O classification only.
Source: 2024 DOR Tax Exemption Study · RCW 82.04.192(3)(b)(xv)
After
Effective October 1, 2025, ESSB 5814 treats data processing services as an enumerated retail sale subject to retail sales/use tax. Confirm specific facts against ESSB 5814 and DOR's interim guidance.
Source: ESSB 5814 (2025)
Details
- Citation
- RCW 82.04.192(3)(b)(xv)
- Study reference
- E1563-1
- Tax type
- Retail Sales & Use Tax
- Preference type
- Exemption
- Category
- Business
- Year enacted
- 2010
- End date
- None scheduled
Fiscal impact (2024 study estimates)
- Revenue if repealed — local ($M)
- FY 2024: 0 · FY 2025: 9.402 · FY 2026: 10.713 · FY 2027: 11.223
- Revenue if repealed — state ($M)
- FY 2024: 0 · FY 2025: 17.137 · FY 2026: 19.135 · FY 2027: 20.045
- Taxpayer savings — local ($M)
- FY 2024: 9.877 · FY 2025: 10.257 · FY 2026: 10.713 · FY 2027: 11.223
- Taxpayer savings — state ($M)
- FY 2024: 21.964 · FY 2025: 22.808 · FY 2026: 23.822 · FY 2027: 24.956
CTI = confidential taxpayer information · D = unable to disclose
From the 2024 DOR Tax Exemption Study
82.04.192(3)(b)(xv) - Digital automated service - data processing Description Digital automated services are classified as retail sales and are subject to retailing B&O tax. However, digital automated services exclude data processing services from the definition of digital automated services, so they are instead subject to the service and other activities B&O tax classification. Data processing services includes automated services to extract information from customer-supplied data including check processing, image processing, form processing, survey processing, payroll processing, claim processing, and similar activities. Any services beyond the bare processing itself would disqualify an activity. Purpose To protect the sales and use tax base, establish certainty in the tax code, maintain conformity with the streamlined sales and use tax agreement, and encourage economic development. Taxpayer ($ in millions): savings FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 State Taxes $21.964 $22.808 $23.822 $24.956 Local Taxes $0.000 $10.257 $10.713 $11.223 Repeal of Repealing this exemption would increase revenues. exemption Potential ($ in millions): revenue gains FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 from fu
Does this apply to you?
This is reference data from the 2024 study — not advice, and 2025–26 legislation may have changed it. Three ways to go deeper: