HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1332
As Reported by House Committee On:
Finance
Title: An act relating to property tax deferral during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brief Description: Concerning property tax deferral during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsors: Representatives Sullivan, Ramel, Leavitt, Dufault, Hackney, Wylie, Santos, Ortiz-Self, Ormsby, Rule, Stokesbary, Callan, Pollet and Macri.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Finance: 1/26/21, 2/18/21 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Requires county treasurers to grant a deferral of 2021 property tax payments for certain businesses via establishment of a payment plan.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 16 members:Representatives Frame, Chair; Berg, Vice Chair; Walen, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Dufault, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chase, Chopp, Harris-Talley, Morgan, Orwall, Ramel, Springer, Stokesbary, Thai, Vick and Wylie.
Staff: Rachelle Harris (786-7137).
Background:

Property Tax Statements and Payment Due Dates.
All real and personal property in Washington is subject to property tax, unless the law provides a specific exemption.  All taxes on real and personal property are due and payable to the county treasurer.  To avoid interest and penalties, at least half of the amount owed is due by April 30, and the full balance is due by October 31.  If the tax is less than $50, the entire payment must be paid in full by April 30.  Delinquent tax payments are subject to interest and penalties.
 
Tax Delinquencies.
Delinquent tax payments are subject to interest and penalties.  Interest is charged at a rate of 1 percent per month on the full amount due from the month of delinquency until the delinquency is paid in full.  In addition, a 3 percent penalty is also imposed on the unpaid amount of current taxes on June 1 with an additional 8 percent penalty imposed on the unpaid amount of current taxes as of December 1.
 
Payment Options.
A county treasurer may accept prepayments for current year taxes provided the payments are paid in full by the statutory tax payment due dates.  A treasurer may also provide a payment agreement to a taxpayer for payment of any current or delinquent taxes owed.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

County treasurers must grant a deferral of taxes due in 2021 via the establishment of a payment plan for qualifying businesses.  To qualify, a business must demonstrate a loss of at least 25 percent of revenue for calendar year 2020 compared to calendar year 2019.  To prove this revenue loss, the business must submit an application provided by the Department of Revenue.  Penalties and interest may not be applied to taxes due under the deferral payment plan.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill allows deferral of all 2021 taxes for qualifying businesses via the establishment of a payment plan.  The substitute bill specifies that penalties and interest will not be applied to taxes under a deferral payment plan.
 
The temporary suspension of interest and penalties on all property tax payments is removed.  The local government loan program and the creation of the COVID-19 Property Tax Deferral Loan Account are also removed in the substitute bill.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This state is experiencing extremely low use of hospitality services in the time of COVID-19.  Many businesses are under the burden of large debt, and this is a problem that will keep getting worse.  This bill will allow businesses that have experienced harm to postpone payments of their property tax.  This will help businesses deal with property tax obligations in these difficult times.  The Washington Hospitality Association is interested in making it clear that if there is a tenant in a space, the benefit from this bill would flow to the tenant and not remain with the landlord.  Hotels are suffering enormously because their revenues have fallen steeply.
 
(Opposed) Though this measure is intended to seek relief for property tax owners, it undermines the entire system of property taxation.  The suspension of all interest and penalties for all taxpayers during emergency and for one year after means that some taxpayers would decide not to pay in a timely fashion.  This could result in a huge impact on revenues.  Verifying the reduction in income is likely impossible, and the resources to try and do so do not exist.
 
(Other) Caution needs to be made to understand the impacts on school districts.  The deferral crosses multiple fiscal years, which could affect debt payments.  It is not clear that school districts will qualify for these loans, so clarifying language would be helpful.  There is variation in how counties assess and calculate interest, which creates complication.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Julia Gorton, Washington Hospitality Association; and Shaiza Damji, 360 Hotel Group.
(Opposed) Mike Lonergan, Washington State Association of County Treasurers.
(Other) Chris Brenengen and Barbara Posthumus, School Alliance. 
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: Jonathan Peara; Clyde Priddy; Beth Hubbard; Tony Sam; Gordon Haggerty, 2310 Yale Apartments, LLC; Christopher Gurdjian; Shaun Scott; Alicia Rowell, Dobler Management Company; David Monk; Jim Henderson, Rental Housing Association of Washington; Patti Hoendermis, Yakima Valley Landlords Association; Susan Gonzales; Susan Schenck; Marissa Rathbone, Washington State School Directors' Association; Michael Baumgartner, Spokane County; Lorrell Noahr, Washington Education Association; Charlie Brown, Federal Way School District; and Billy Wessell, Bethel School District.