IRS-qualified business valuation appraisals in Washington for donations, M&A, gift tax, and IRA conversion. AppraiseItNow appraises small businesses, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, and professional practices online and onsite across Washington, including Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma.
By credentialed, best-in-class appraisers
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Joe Kattan
Justin Ramirez, ASA, ABV, CFA
Raymond Ghelardi, ASA
Aron Blue
About Business Valuation Appraisals in Washington
AppraiseItNow provides professional business valuation appraisal services throughout Washington, supporting clients across a wide range of purposes including charitable donations, mergers and acquisitions, gift tax compliance, and IRA conversions. Washington's evolving tax landscape, including the new millionaires tax under SB 6346, tiered capital gains taxes, and the nation's highest estate tax rates, makes accurate, defensible valuations more critical than ever for business owners, estate planners, and transaction advisors. Our credentialed appraisers apply recognized methodologies including discounted cash flow analysis, guideline public company comparisons, and asset-based approaches to deliver valuations that hold up under IRS scrutiny and legal review. Our mission is to deliver defensible, USPAP-compliant valuations with exceptional speed, professionalism, and client service.
Whether you prefer a remote engagement or an onsite visit, our business appraisal team works with clients across Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Everett, and throughout the state to assess closely held companies, pass-through entities, and fractional interests with precision and care. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV) appraisals for various intended uses, ensuring every report meets the standards required by the IRS, courts, financial institutions, and transacting parties.
What Types of Business Valuation Do We Appraise in Washington?
Our appraisers cover a broad range of business types and ownership structures across Washington's diverse economy, from technology and aerospace firms in the Puget Sound region to agricultural operations and manufacturing businesses in Eastern Washington. Business interests we appraise include:
- Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs
- Multi-member LLCs and limited liability partnerships
- S corporations and pass-through entities
- C corporations and closely held private companies
- Professional practices including medical, dental, legal, and accounting firms
- Family-owned businesses and family limited partnerships
- Retail, wholesale, and distribution businesses
- Manufacturing and industrial operations
- Technology startups and software companies
- Fractional and minority ownership interests
Washington's unique tax environment, particularly the 9.9% millionaires tax on pass-through earnings above $1 million and the tiered capital gains tax effective from January 1, 2025, directly affects how business income is modeled in DCF valuations. Recent Tax Court decisions, including the 2025 Pierce case, now validate tax affecting pass-through earnings using state-level rates like Washington's, making it essential to work with appraisers who understand these jurisdiction-specific valuation adjustments. For estate and gift tax purposes, valuations must also account for Washington's graduated estate tax rates, which apply to estates over $3 million and reach up to 35%.
Who Does AppraiseItNow Serve in Washington?
AppraiseItNow serves business owners, estate attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, M&A professionals, nonprofit organizations, and individual investors throughout Washington who need credible, court-ready business valuations for tax compliance, transaction planning, charitable giving, or retirement account conversions. Whether you are preparing for a business sale, updating a buy-sell agreement, or establishing a pre-tax-change baseline before 2028, our team is equipped to deliver the accurate, well-documented appraisals your situation demands.
5-Star Valuation Services, Loved by Hundreds
Written USPAP-compliant business valuations for when defensibility matters.
Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.
Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:
Tax, Estate & Financial Planning
- Estate Tax - IRS Form 706
- Capital Gains Tax reporting
- Gift Tax (Transfer Tax) - IRS Form 709
- Charitable donations - IRS Form 8283
- Traditional to Roth IRA conversions
- Estate planning and probate
- Bankruptcy Filing
Transactions, Lending & Investment
- Loan collateral
- Purchase price allocation & cost segregation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Financial Reporting
- Investment analysis
- Equitable distribution for divorce or partnership dissolution
Frequently Asked
Questions
No Frequently Asked Questions Found.
Can AppraiseItNow appraise Business Valuation in Washington?
Yes, AppraiseItNow provides professional business valuation appraisals throughout Washington state, serving clients in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and communities across the state.
What types of Business Valuation does AppraiseItNow appraise in Washington?
We appraise a wide range of business interests in Washington, including closely held corporations, LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and professional practices. Our appraisals support purposes such as donations, mergers and acquisitions, gift tax compliance, and IRA conversions.
Are your Business Valuation appraisals USPAP-compliant?
Yes, all of our business valuation appraisals follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), ensuring credibility and acceptance for tax, legal, and transactional purposes.
What are common reasons someone in Washington needs a Business Valuation appraisal?
Washington business owners most commonly need appraisals for charitable donations, M&A transactions, gift tax filings, and IRA conversions. Estate planning and exit strategy work are also frequent drivers, especially given Washington's estate tax rates.
Do you provide online or remote Business Valuation appraisals in Washington?
Yes, our process is fully remote and document-driven, so Washington clients can work with us from anywhere in the state without in-person meetings.
How much does a Business Valuation appraisal cost in Washington?
Fees are based on the scope and complexity of each engagement. Contact us for a custom quote tailored to your specific business and purpose.
How long does a Business Valuation appraisal take?
Most business valuation engagements in Washington are completed within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the business and the availability of financial documentation.
Who prepares the appraisal report?
Our appraisals are prepared by credentialed professionals holding designations such as ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) or CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst), ensuring your report meets professional and regulatory standards.
Are there any Washington-specific regulations for Business Valuation appraisals?
Washington does not require a specific state license for business valuation appraisers, unlike real estate appraisers who are regulated under WAC 308-125. Business valuations are still expected to follow USPAP and applicable IRS standards to be credible for tax, legal, or transactional use.
Do you prepare appraisals for IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions)?
Yes, we prepare qualified appraisals that support IRS Form 8283 filings for noncash charitable contributions, including business interests donated by Washington taxpayers. Our reports meet the IRS requirements for contributions exceeding $5,000.
Do you buy, sell, or broker Business Valuation?
No, AppraiseItNow is an independent appraisal firm only. We do not buy, sell, or broker business interests, which ensures our valuations remain objective and unbiased.
What information do you need to get started?
To begin a business valuation in Washington, we typically need:
- Two to three years of financial statements and tax returns
- A description of the business, its ownership structure, and the purpose of the appraisal
- Any existing buy-sell agreements, shareholder agreements, or prior valuations
- Information about the effective date of value needed
Will my appraisal be accepted by the IRS, insurers, or courts in Washington?
Our appraisals are prepared to meet IRS, legal, and institutional standards, including Revenue Ruling 59-60 requirements for closely held businesses. They are suitable for use in tax filings, litigation support, and transactional due diligence in Washington.
Does Washington require a special license for business valuation appraisers?
Washington state does not impose a specific licensing requirement for business valuation appraisers, unlike the regulated real estate appraisal profession. Credibility comes from professional credentials such as ASA or CVA and adherence to USPAP standards.
How does Washington's millionaires tax affect pass-through business valuations?
Washington's 9.9% income tax on pass-through entity earnings above $1 million reduces after-tax cash flows, which directly lowers discounted cash flow (DCF) valuations for LLCs and similar entities. Appraisers account for this through tax affecting, which decreases values compared to C corporations not subject to the same tax.
Can Washington's 9.9% state tax be tax-affected in DCF models after the Pierce case?
Yes, following the 2025 Pierce v. Commissioner decision, tax affecting Washington's 9.9% millionaires tax in DCF models for pass-through businesses is permitted. This court validation can reduce high-earnings valuations by approximately 10% compared to models that did not apply tax affecting.
What IRS forms and documentation are needed for Washington estate tax filings involving business interests?
IRS Form 706 filings require detailed FMV appraisals applying Revenue Ruling 59-60 factors and accepted methods such as DCF or guideline public company analysis. Form 8283 is required for non-cash donations over $500, with qualified appraisals needed for claims exceeding $5,000, and Washington's state estate tax applies at rates up to 35% on estates over $3 million as of July 2025.
How do Washington's capital gains and B&O tax changes affect business sale valuations?
Washington's capital gains tax, effective from January 1, 2025, at 7% up to $1 million and 9.9% above that threshold, reduces net proceeds for pass-through owners and lowers valuations accordingly. B&O tax surcharges and permanent rate increases for certain industries also compress after-tax returns in DCF models, further affecting sale valuations.
Why should Washington business owners get a valuation before 2028?
Obtaining a valuation before January 1, 2028 captures cash flows before the full embedding of Washington's new tax structure under SB 6346, which can reflect more favorable economics for pass-through entities. Post-2028 appraisals will incorporate permanent reductions from the millionaires and capital gains taxes, making earlier valuations valuable for exit planning, gifts, and estate tax compliance.
How does buyer residency affect pass-through business valuations in Washington?
Washington-resident buyers of pass-through businesses face the full 9.9% millionaires tax on earnings above $1 million, which reduces after-tax returns and creates a valuation discount compared to out-of-state or C corporation buyers. This residency-driven tax impact can weaken deal economics for in-state purchasers and is an important factor in structuring and pricing transactions.
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