Confusion has gripped Seattle residents in recent weeks, fueled by rumors circulating online about a proposed tax on groceries. The culprit? An email allegedly from Instacart, the popular grocery delivery service, warning customers about the new levy. But fear not, Seattleites, your pantries are
Seattle’s Tax Burden Soars, But City Struggles to Address Urgent Concerns
The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) is raising concerns about the city's escalating tax rates and its failure to address critical issues facing residents. A recent study commissioned by the DSA revealed that Seattle's general fund and operating fund taxes have skyrocketed at an alarming rate,
Navigating Black Friday as a Small Business
Black Friday is a global shopping phenomenon, synonymous with deep discounts and frenzied crowds. While large conglomerates and big-box retailers dominate the Black Friday landscape with their massive advertising budgets and deep-pocketed promotions, small businesses often find themselves struggling
Small Business Booming in Seattle (and especially in U-District)
Interest in starting small businesses is rising across Washington state. In 2022, 25% more business applications were filed than in 2019, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- with King County specifically having had the most applications (at over 33,200). All of which begs the
The IRS’s new withdrawal process for the employee retention tax credit (ERC)
What is the ERC? The ERC is a tax credit that was created to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows businesses to claim a credit for certain wages paid to employees who were unable to work due to the pandemic. Why is the IRS offering a withdrawal option? The IRS is offering
The Seattle City Council’s Spending Problem
The Seattle City Council has been in a spending spiral for years. From 2012 to 2019, the General Fund budget (which funds basic city services such as police, fire, and human services) increased by 52%. City employees (not including utility and transportation workers) increased by 26%. The council
Pricing Towards Gender Equality: What it Means for Small Businesses
In a historic move towards achieving gender equality, the United States Senate has taken a momentous step by approving a groundbreaking bill that seeks to ban gender-based pricing. This landmark legislation aims to eliminate the long-standing practice of pricing products and services differently
Seattle’s JumpStart Tax: What Small Business Owners Need to Know
The Seattle JumpStart payroll tax is a tax on businesses with a total payroll of more than $8.1 million annually, and that have at least one employee making $174,337 per year or more. The tax rate is 1% for businesses with a payroll of up to $20 million, 2% for businesses with a payroll of $20