The IRS has issued Notice 2020-18 expanding tax filing and tax payment relief for taxpayers due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Who qualifies? Any “person,” which includes an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation under IRC §7701(a)(1), with a federal income tax payment or a federal income tax return due on April 15, 2020, […]
Helsell
Seattle City Council Recently Passes Flurry of Bills to Protect Residential Tenants
Last week, in response to the housing crisis and in support of greater tenant rights, the Seattle City Council passed two sets of bills related to residential rental properties in the City that both landlords and tenants alike should be aware of. The first set of bills addressed landlords’ and tenants’ rights during a tenancy […]
Wage Theft, Minimum Wage Violations: Most Costly Areas for Employers Investigated by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards
According to data reports published by the Seattle Office of Labor Standards – which enforces the City’s labor standards for minimum wage, Paid Sick and Safe Time, Fair Chance Employment, and other related laws – the costliest areas of enforcement for employers are violations of minimum wage and wage theft ordinances. In the first six […]
New Legislation Reducing Liability for Condominium Defects Takes Effect
With concerns over affordable housing being a driving force, Senate Bill 5334 was passed earlier this year and just recently took effect. This new legislation has been celebrated by affordable housing proponents, developers, and homebuyers alike as it is expected to spur increased infill development, consistent with the Growth Management Act and local Comprehensive Plans. […]
Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Driving Changes to Increase Transparency and Flexibility of Real Estate Broker Commissions
A class action lawsuit filed in March of this year has spurred significant changes in the way real estate brokerages are setting and disclosing commissions for listing and selling brokers. The suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, names the National Association of Realtors and the four largest […]
New Wastewater Rule Reflects Increasing Environmental Regulation of Wine Industry
The Washington wine industry is the second largest in the United States, with over 970 wineries in business and an annual production of approximately 17.5 million cases, according to the Washington State Wine Commission. As the Washington wine industry grows, it will to face an increasing level of environmental regulation. Other winegrowing states, such as […]
Seattle City Council Unanimously Approves Legislation that Allows for Construction of More Mother-in-Law Apartments and Backyard Cottages
Residents, neighborhood groups, developers, and designers alike are now awaiting the Seattle Mayor’s signature. Last week, after a fine-tuned version was submitted, the Seattle City Council voted 8-0 to adopt proposed legislation that will ease restrictions on the construction of accessory dwelling units, commonly referred to as ADUs or mother-in-law apartments, and detached accessory dwelling […]
Seattle City Council Considering Legislation Restricting Single-Family Home Development
The Seattle City Council is considering legislation introduced by Councilmember Mike O’Brien intended to increase the availability of affordable housing in Seattle. The proposal, which largely seeks to expand the amount of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) available in order to increase affordable housing inventory and options, would also impose new regulations on the allowable floor […]
Washington Outlaws Pay History Questions
On May 9, 2019 Governor Jay Inslee signed a new law into effect that forbids employers from seeking a job applicant’s salary history or requiring that an applicant’s prior wage or salary history meet certain criteria. Under the new law, which shall be known as the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, employers may confirm […]
Washington Implements Graduated Real Estate Excise Tax at the State Level
The Washington State Legislature recently passed ESSB 5998, overhauling the state’s real estate excise tax framework and putting into place a graduated system replacing the prior flat rate applicable to all property sales. Governor Inslee is expected to sign the legislation into law, which replaces the statewide flat rate of 1.28% on all sales of […]