Washington lawmakers consider uncapping tax on big tech companies to fund higher ed
A battle is brewing in the Washington Legislature over a Democratic bill that would hike a tax on large technology companies to raise more money for higher education, including student financial aid.
The “advanced computing surcharge” applies to firms with global revenue above $25 billion — think Microsoft and Amazon. But the amount each taxpayer owes is limited to $9 million a year.
House Bill 1839 would eliminate that cap. It’s a move that could more than triple the collections seen from the surcharge in each of the past three years, pushing up revenue by around $200 million annually, according to estimates attached to the legislation.
The surcharge stems from a package of higher education programs lawmakers approved in 2019 that included the Washington College Grant — touted by supporters as one of the most generous state tuition assistance programs in the nation for low- and middle-income students.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/05/washington-lawmakers-consider-uncapping-tax-on-big-tech-companies-to-fund-higher-ed/