Washington credit and debt laws

Washington statute of limitations on debt

• Accounts receivable. Covers an obligation for payment incurred in the ordinary course of the claimant's business or profession.

Time limits to sue vs. time on your credit report

The Washington deadlines above control how long a creditor or collector can win a lawsuit. They don't change how long an account stays on your credit report. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act limits most negative items to 7 years in every state, counted from the date of first delinquency, and a payment doesn't restart that reporting clock. See how long negative items stay for both clocks side by side.

Can a payment restart the clock?

A payment made after a debt is due but before the deadline passes restarts the period from that payment, but a payment made after the period has expired does not restart, revive or extend it (RCW 4.16.270). A written, signed acknowledgment or promise can extend an unexpired period, but a promise made after the period has run cannot revive it (RCW 4.16.280).

Does Washington limit lawsuits on old debt?

Yes. A licensed collection agency may not bring a lawsuit or start arbitration on a claim it knows, or reasonably should know, is barred by the statute of limitations (RCW 19.16.250(23)).

Medical debt on credit reports in Washington

Senate Bill 5480 (2025) bars licensed collection agencies from reporting adverse information about a medical debt to credit bureaus and limits credit bureaus from reporting medical debt, which the state's Fair Credit Reporting Act now lists at RCW 19.182.040(1)(g). The law: RCW 19.16.250(28)(a)(iii); RCW 19.182.040(1)(g) (SB 5480, 2025). In effect since July 27, 2025.

Compare every state in medical debt laws by state.

Marriage and debt

Washington is a community property state. Debts taken on during the marriage can be treated as shared under state law, but each spouse still has a separate credit report, and an account shows only on the reports of the people on it.

Can employers check your credit?

An employer may not get a consumer report for employment purposes that contains information on your creditworthiness, credit standing or credit capacity unless the information is substantially job related and the reasons are disclosed to you in writing, or the report is required by law. The law: RCW 19.182.020(2)(c).

Do debt collectors need a Washington license?

Yes. A person may not act, assume to act or advertise as a collection agency in Washington without first getting a license under the Collection Agency Act (RCW 19.16.110). The Department of Licensing issues the license, including to businesses that buy debt or collect for a third party.

In Washington, complaints about debt collectors and credit reporting can go to Washington State Department of Licensing (collection agencies), as well as to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

More to know in Washington

In Washington a payment on an expired debt can't bring it back. RCW 4.16.270 says a payment made after the limitations period has run does not restart, revive or extend it, and RCW 4.16.280 says the same about a promise made after the deadline. A payment made before the deadline passes still restarts the clock. The periods are six years for written contracts and accounts receivable (RCW 4.16.040) and three years for oral contracts (RCW 4.16.080(3)). Licensed collection agencies may not sue or start arbitration on a claim they know or should know is time-barred (RCW 19.16.250(23)). Since July 27, 2025, collection agencies may not report medical debt to the credit bureaus, and the state's credit reporting law limits bureaus from reporting it. Washington also limits employer credit checks to jobs where credit is substantially job related or required by law. Collection agencies must be licensed by the Department of Licensing.

Guides that go deeper

• The statute of limitations on debt, and how a payment can reset itA statute of limitations limits when a collector can sue, not whether it can ask you to pay. How the clock starts, how it can restart, and what Reg F bans.
• How zombie debt and illegal re-aging bring old debts backZombie debts are old, paid, or wrong debts that resurface after a sale. Re-aging is reporting a newer delinquency date. How to spot and fight both.
• Sued by a debt collector? What to do in the first 2 weeksA debt lawsuit you ignore usually ends in a default judgment. What to read on the summons, how to respond on time, and where to find free legal help.
• Which states ban medical debt on credit reports? The 2026 listFifteen states have laws keeping medical debt off credit reports. The statute, start date and reach of each, plus the bureau rules that apply everywhere.
• Medical debt on credit reports: the rules in force in 2026The federal medical debt ban was struck down in 2025. What still protects you in 2026: bureau policies, newer scores, state laws and hospital aid rules.