Calculate your property tax for VA. Enter your home value, apply exemptions, and see your estimated annual tax.
Virginia's effective property tax rates are moderate, commonly 0.8% to 1.0% of market value. Property is assessed at 100% of market value by local localities (there is no state assessment), and rates vary widely by city/county. Relief is set locally: most jurisdictions offer tax relief for the elderly and disabled (a circuit breaker) and a veterans' exemption. This guide explains the calculation and relief; the calculator below estimates your bill.
Virginia values property at 100% of market value; your tax is the assessed value times the combined rate (mills per $100) set by the city or county, plus any town, school, and special-district levies. Because assessment and rates are entirely local, the same home can owe very different amounts across a county line — shopping the locality matters as much as the home price.
Virginia authorizes — but does not require — localities to grant tax relief for the elderly and disabled: a circuit-breaker that reduces the bill for owners 65+ or disabled with income under a limit (commonly around $50,000–$60,000, set locally). Whether and how much you get depends on your city/county; apply with the local commissioner of the revenue or treasurer.
Virginia grants a disabled veterans' exemption (a full exemption of the home's assessed value for a 100% service-connected-disabled veteran, with partial relief for lower ratings) and exemptions for surviving spouses. There is also a blind exemption and, in some localities, a general homestead exemption. These are claimed locally and are the largest reliefs for eligible owners.
Virginia has no Prop 13-style cap; localities reassess on their own cycles (some annually, some every few years), and rates are set locally each year. Northern Virginia localities tend to have high home values but moderate rates; rural localities vary. The local elderly/disabled relief and veterans' exemptions are the main cushions.
Virginia assesses at 100% of market value and sets rates locally, with no statewide assessment cap. The main reliefs are the locally adopted elderly/disabled circuit breaker and the disabled-veterans' exemption. Because everything is local, check your specific city/county program.
Virginia is unusual among states: it has 95 counties and 38 independent cities, and each of those 133 localities sets its own combined rate, homestead exemption, and elderly/disabled relief. The figures below draw on our county datasets where available; because rates differ so sharply across a county line or city boundary, always enter your specific locality's combined rate in the calculator rather than a statewide average.
| County | Effective Rate | Est. tax on $350,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax | 1.15% | $4,025 |
Estimates apply each county's effective rate to a $350,000 market value for comparison only; your actual bill depends on your own assessed value, exemptions, and local levies.
Virginia bills are commonly paid annually or in two installments by the local treasurer on the combined rate, with penalty on late payment and a tax sale after prolonged delinquency. The elderly/disabled relief and veterans' exemption are claimed locally. Because rates are entirely local, they vary sharply across a county line.
To lower your Virginia bill: (1) check whether your city/county offers the elderly/disabled tax relief (circuit breaker) and apply if 65+/disabled with income under the limit; (2) claim the disabled-veterans' exemption (full for 100%) locally; (3) because assessment and rates are local, compare jurisdictions when house-hunting; (4) verify the 100% market value and appeal by about June 30 with comparable sales; (5) follow local rate votes. The local relief is the key saving.
In practice, a Virginia bill is the assessed value (100% of market, set by localities) times the combined county/city/town/school rate, minus the homestead exemption (a set dollar reduction adopted by some localities, e.g. $10,000–$20,000) and any elderly/disabled exemption (income-tested, up to a larger amount). Because Virginia gives localities wide latitude, the exemption varies by jurisdiction. Read the assessment notice and grieve the market value if comparable sales are lower.
If you are buying in Virginia, check whether your locality offers a homestead exemption (some do, e.g. $10,000–$20,000) and an elderly/disabled exemption (income-tested). Because localities set their own rates and exemptions, the variation is wide; compare neighboring jurisdictions. Grieve the market value if comparable sales are lower. Verify your occupancy status for the residential rate.
To appeal in Virginia, file by the local board of equalization deadline (or the circuit court in some localities). (1) Compare the market value to recent sales. (2) File with the board. (3) Appeal to the circuit court / state review if needed. (4) Confirm any homestead or elderly/disabled exemption your locality offers. Assessment is at 100% of market, set by localities.
Virginia's reform debate is local: because localities set their own rates and homestead exemptions (some offer none, some $10,000–$20,000), there are periodic proposals for a statewide homestead exemption or a standardized elderly/disabled exemption. School-funding reforms also affect rates. Watch your locality's board and the General Assembly for exemption changes.
100% market value — localities value at full market. Homestead exemption — a set-dollar reduction some localities offer. Elderly/disabled exemption — an income-tested reduction. Board of equalization — the local appeal body (or circuit court). School rate — usually the largest charge.
Two $350,000 homes at 100% assessment with a 0.8% effective rate. Homeowner A owes about $2,800. Homeowner B, in a locality with a $10,000–$20,000 homestead exemption, claims it and potentially cuts the net toward $2,200–$2,500. The example shows exemption availability varies widely by locality — check yours.
Virginia homeowners with a mortgage pay via escrow; the lender remits the installments. Because exemptions vary by locality, check whether your jurisdiction offers a homestead or elderly/disabled exemption and tell the lender. Buyers should compare neighboring localities' rates, since the variation is wide; the escrow estimate should use the specific county/city.
Virginia owners should check whether your city or county offers the elderly/disabled tax relief (circuit breaker) — it is set locally, so the amount varies and many eligible owners never apply. If you are 65+ or disabled with income under the limit, file with the commissioner of the revenue or treasurer. A 100% service-connected-disabled veteran should file the full exemption locally. Because assessment and rates are entirely local, compare neighboring jurisdictions if you are house-hunting — the same home can owe far more across a county line. Verify the 100% market value and appeal by about June 30 with comparable sales if it looks high. Remember that Virginia's 38 independent cities are taxed separately from the surrounding counties, so a home inside a city limit can owe a very different bill than one just outside it.
How is Virginia property assessed? At 100% of market value by the local locality; rates are set locally too.
Does Virginia have a homestead exemption? Relief for the elderly/disabled is set locally (a circuit breaker); some localities also offer a general homestead exemption.
What veterans' relief exists in Virginia? A disabled veterans' exemption (full for 100%), plus surviving-spouse and blind exemptions, claimed locally.
Does Virginia have an assessment cap? No statewide cap; localities reassess on their own cycles and set rates locally.
How do I appeal my Virginia assessment? File with the local board of equalization by the notice deadline, then to the Virginia Circuit Court.
Virginia has an average effective property tax rate of 0.80%, which is close to the national average. Property taxes in Virginia are assessed at the local level by cities and counties.