Margins & Manufacturing Roundtable
A Direct Conversation with Representative April Berg and Senator Tina Orwall

Washington’s business tax system could be changing, and the businesses most impacted should have a voice in shaping what comes next.

The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Kent Chamber of Commerce are bringing together manufacturers, business leaders, tax professionals, and policymakers for an important conversation about the future of Washington’s business tax structure.

Led by Representative April Berg and Senator Tina Orwall, this interactive roundtable will explore the emerging Margins Tax proposal and what a potential shift away from the state’s current B&O tax structure could mean for businesses across our region.

This is not a presentation where you sit in the audience and listen. This is a working conversation, and we want businesses at the table.

Participants will have the opportunity to speak directly with state leaders about the realities of doing business in Washington, including the cost of goods sold, payroll and compensation, tax predictability, administrative burden, business growth, capital investment, and the ability to expand and create jobs.

Why this conversation matters
Policy is strongest when the people who will live with it help shape it.

As lawmakers explore ways to make Washington’s business tax system more equitable while maintaining reliable state revenue, there are important questions that need to be answered:

• Would a Margins Tax make it easier or harder to do business in Washington?

• How should costs like goods sold and employee compensation be treated?

• What protections should exist for small and growing businesses?

• How can Washington create greater tax fairness without sacrificing predictability and competitiveness?

• What would businesses need to confidently invest, hire, and expand here?

• If a new system moves forward, what does a responsible transition look like?

These are not theoretical questions. They directly affect decisions about jobs, facilities, equipment, investment, expansion, and whether companies continue growing in Washington.

Your voice belongs in the room.

Whether you operate a manufacturing company, manage a growing business, advise employers on tax and finance, or are responsible for making decisions about future investment, we invite you to join us and bring your perspective.

Come ready to ask questions, share what you are seeing on the ground, identify potential unintended consequences, and help policymakers understand what businesses need from Washington’s tax system.

Don’t wait until a proposal is finalized to make your voice heard. Join the conversation while there is still an opportunity to help shape it.

Presented in partnership by the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce and Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Brown Bag Lunch: Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch and join us at 11:00 AM for informal networking before the program begins at 11:15 AM.

This FREE roundtable is designed specifically for businesses in the manufacturing sector, and we strongly encourage manufacturers of all sizes to join the conversation. Businesses from other industries are welcome to attend for educational purposes; however, the discussion and feedback will remain focused on manufacturing. Additional industry-specific conversations will be scheduled in the future. Space is limited and advance RSVP is required.

Click Here to Register