Moving from Washington to Arizona: What Changes for Your Paycheck (2026)
About 9,373 people moved along this corridor in 2019. Here is what the move does to take-home pay at every salary we model, and the one rule that decides whether the bill matches the arithmetic.
Last updated
At a glance
Tax year 2026, single filer, $100,000, biweekly pay, no retirement contribution, health premium or local tax — the same assumptions as the method section. Rates and brackets come from the Tax Foundation tables in force on January 1, 2026.
| Rule | Washington → Arizona |
|---|---|
| Washington | No wage income tax |
| Arizona | Flat 2.5% on taxable income |
| Take-home at $100,000 | $$79,180 → $$76,889 |
| Difference | −$$2,291 per year, −$$88 per paycheck |
| Movers on this corridor | 9,373 (Census ACS 2019, top net-mover corridors) |
Paycheck comparison
Both columns are computed by the calculator from the same inputs, so the only thing that differs between them is the state layer. Federal tax, Social Security and Medicare cancel out — the difference column is entirely Washington and Arizona.
| Income | Washington | Arizona | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $$42,355 | $$41,314 | −$$1,041 |
| $75,000 | $$61,593 | $$59,926 | −$$1,666 |
| $100,000 | $$79,180 | $$76,889 | −$$2,291 |
| $150,000 | $$113,791 | $$110,250 | −$$3,541 |
Want different inputs? Run this move through the calculator with Arizona selected — filing status, retirement percentage, health premium and local tax all change the answer, and none of them are modelled above.
No wage tax in Washington, a flat rate in Arizona
Washington does not tax wage income. Arizona does, at a flat rate after its own standard deduction — a modest bill compared with the graduated states, but a bill nonetheless.
- A flat rate is easy to plan: the marginal rate on $60,000 and on $250,000 is the same number.
- There is no wage return for the Washington side of the move year.
- Arizona taxes you as a resident once you become one; part-year filing covers the remainder of the transition year.
The year you move
Neither state recognises the day you unpacked the boxes as a bright line. You file a part-year resident return in Washington for the wages earned while you were its resident and a part-year return in Arizona for the rest, and the date each one starts is a question of domicile facts — home, family, licence, registration, voting, business ties — not of the calendar.
The rules above decide who gets to tax which days; the mechanics of residency, day-count apportionment and safe harbors are the same on every corridor and are set out once in which state taxes a remote worker. Keep a per-day log of where you worked, your employer’s written statement of your work location, and the paperwork that shows you actually moved.
Read the full schedules behind these figures: Washington tax brackets and Arizona tax brackets.
Common questions
Does Arizona tax wages?
Arizona taxes wage income with a flat schedule and a top rate of 2.5%. Your employer withholds it from each paycheck once you are a resident, and the year you arrive is a part-year resident return.
How much do I keep moving from Washington to Arizona?
At $100,000 for a single filer, take-home is $$79,180 in Washington and $$76,889 in Arizona — a difference of −$$2,291 a year, or about −$$88 per biweekly paycheck. The four-income table above shows the same calculation at $50,000, $75,000 and $150,000; the federal tax and FICA portions are identical on both sides.
What is the one thing to get right on this move?
A flat rate is easy to plan: the marginal rate on $60,000 and on $250,000 is the same number.
Estimates for a modelled filer, not tax advice, and not a prediction of your return — part-year residency, bonuses, local taxes and filing status all move the number. See the Disclaimer and what this site’s numbers do and do not model.