Overview of Virginia Taxes
With an average effective property tax rate of 0.76%, Virginia property taxes come in well below the national average of 0.90%. Since home values in many parts of Virginia are very high, though, Virginia homeowners still pay around the national median when it comes to actual property tax payments.
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- About This Answer
To calculate the exact amount of property tax you will owe requires your property's assessed value and the property tax rates based on your property's address. Please note that we can only estimate your property tax based on median property taxes in your area. There are typically multiple rates in a given area, because your state, county, local schools and emergency responders each receive funding partly through these taxes. In our calculator, we take your home value and multiply that by your county's effective property tax rate. This is equal to the median property tax paid as a percentage of the median home value in your county.
Virginia Property Tax
Homeowners in the state of Virginia pay property tax rates that are well below the national average of 0.90%. In fact, the state's average effective property tax rate is just 0.76%, which falls in the bottom half of the nation.
Home values are quite high in Virginia, though, so homeowners here often pay annual property tax bills that are much more in line with national marks. In parts of Virginia, such as Alexandria City and Fairfax County, median home values surpass $600,000 and median annual property taxes exceed $6,000.
Eager to move? Or perhaps you’re simply looking to refinance your current mortgage? Before making a decision, take a look at our Virginia mortgage guide, which contains everything you need to know about getting a mortgage and mortgage rates throughout Virginia.
A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
How Virginia’s Property Taxes Work
Property taxes in Virginia are calculated by multiplying a home’s assessed value by its total property tax rate. Assessed value is determined by local assessors on regular two- to six-year cycles. By state law, cities are required to reassess every two years and counties every four years. Smaller cities and counties (less than 30,000 and 50,000 people, respectively) can vote to reassess every four, five or six years.
The purpose of reassessment is to determine the fair market value of a property. This is the price the property would sell for on the open market. An inaccurate assessment can mean years of excess taxes, so it’s important that homeowners read their assessment notice. A homeowner who disagrees with their valuation can talk to their local board of assessment or file an official appeal with the Board of Equalization and Assessment Review.
Since properties are not reassessed every year, assessed values typically diverge from market values over time. The state of Virginia conducts an annual sales ratio study to determine the ratio of assessed values to market values. While ratios are generally close to 100%, in some cases they are not.
Thus, when properties are reassessed, it is possible for assessed values to change significantly. By state law, total taxes across a tax district cannot increase by more than 1% because of a reassessment, but taxes on an individual property can increase by any amount.
Virginia Property Tax Rates
Tax rates in Virginia are calculated by local governments, including counties, cities and special districts like sanitation districts. They are calculated per $100 of assessed value.
The table below shows the average effective tax rate (annual taxes paid as a percentage of home value) for every county and independent city in Virginia. It also shows the median home value and median annual property tax for each.
Looking to calculate your potential monthly mortgage payment? Check out our mortgage calculator.
Fairfax County
Located southwest of Washington, D.C., Fairfax County has some of the most expensive homes in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county’s median home value is $666,900.
Those high home values also mean that, while property tax rates in Fairfax County aren’t especially high, annual tax payments are. More specifically, the median annual property tax paid by homeowners in Fairfax County is $6,843, which is more than double the national median.
Virginia Beach
Situated along the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast corner of the state, Virginia Beach has property tax rates slightly higher than the state average. The city’s average effective property tax rate is 0.82%. If you buy a home there, you can expect to pay a property tax bill of around $2,820 a year.
If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in Virginia Beach can help you out.
Prince William County
Prince William County is a largely suburban county situated on the Potomac River, southwest of Washington D.C. The average effective property tax in the county is 1.00%.
Loudoun County
With a population of about 427,000, Loudoun County is the fourth-largest county or independent city in the state of Virginia. It also has some of the highest property taxes. The median annual property tax paid by Loudoun County homeowners is $6,004, which is the third-highest amount in the state. It's also almost double the national median, which is $3,057.
Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County sits along the James River just outside of the city of Richmond. The county gets its name from a former British Secretary of State, the Earl of Chesterfield. The county’s average effective property tax rate is 0.82%. That rate comes in a bit above the 0.76% statewide average.
Henrico County
Henrico County has property taxes comparable to those in Chesterfield, which lies on the opposite side of the James River and the city of Richmond. County homeowners pay a median property tax of $2,304. Homes are valued at a median of $309,700.
Norfolk
Norfolk is an independent city located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia, near Virginia Beach. It's one of the most populous cities in Virginia. The city’s average effective property tax rate is 1.02%, among the 20 highest in Virginia.
Chesapeake
The average effective property tax rate in Chesapeake, an independent city in southeast Virginia, is 0.84%. That represents the amount a typical homeowner could expect to pay annually as a percentage of his or her home value. However, it is important to keep in mind that actual tax rates apply to assessed value, which can differ from market value.
Arlington County
The median home value in Arlington County, which is located directly across the Potomac from the nation’s capital, is $833,300. That’s among the top 20 median home values of any county in the nation. Annual property taxes are likewise quite high, as the median annual property tax paid by homeowners in Arlington County is $7,427.
Richmond
Richmond is the capital of Virginia and the place where Virginia’s property tax laws were established. It has a population of around 226,600, making it the fourth-largest city in the state. Richmond’s average effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
