Skip to main content
February 23, 2023
Question

Oregon tax on Washington land sale

  • February 23, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

We live in Oregon and owned a 1/2 acre residential lot in Washington for 2+ years intending to build a new house. Building costs got out of hand so we sold the lot in 2022. Washington does not tax the income to us, but I can't find in Oregon tax guidance whether we owe taxes in Oregon on the sale.  Any help would be appreciated.

1 reply

February 23, 2023

Because you are an Oregon resident, you must report and pay the tax on the sale.  In general, residents pay tax on all income, nonresidents only pay tax on state-source income.  (And normally the resident state will give a credit for taxes paid to a nonresident state but since Washington does not tax income, there is no credit.)

reedstromAuthor
February 23, 2023

Thanks for the quick response! If I may, a follow-up question for you as it relates to "basis".  The land cost XXX, then we spent YYY for a required "water access fee" (from community association) and ZZZ to clear the lot to build. We had other planning, design and permitting expenses, but those were specific to our house plan, but the water access fee and land clearing cost would be required for anyone. Would these be eligible for including in our basis when calculating our capital gain?

February 24, 2023

Yes,you should add the cost of the water access fee and the clearing of the land to your cost basis of the property sold.  

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"