Virginia Property Tax: Rates, Payment Tips, and What to Expect

Here’s the thing about property tax in Virginia: it’s not just one flat rate for everyone. Every city and county sets its own rate each year, so the number you pay depends completely on where you live. Some places—like Fairfax County or Virginia Beach—have higher rates because of local services, schools, and general costs of running the area.

Virginia figures out your property tax by multiplying your home’s assessed value (what your local tax office thinks your place is worth) by the tax rate in your area. So if your house is worth $300,000 and your county rate is $1.07 per $100, you’re looking at a yearly bill of around $3,210. That’s before any exemptions or special breaks.

This makes knowing your current assessment critical. If you think your home is valued too high, you can appeal. Check your county’s website—they all publish their rates and have deadlines for appeals, sometimes as early as spring. Don’t guess your taxes—look up the number, or call your local tax office. Trust me, they’d rather answer your question than have you pay late.

• How Virginia Property Tax is Calculated
• Typical Rates Across Counties
• Paying Your Virginia Property Taxes
• Tips for Reducing Your Property Tax Bill

How Virginia Property Tax is Calculated

This isn’t rocket science, but Virginia’s property tax system has a couple of steps you need to know. First, in every city and county, there’s an annual assessment—meaning your local government estimates what your property would probably sell for in today’s market. They do this whether or not you plan to sell, and they update it once a year (some places, every two years).

Once they have the assessed value, here’s what happens next:

• The local government picks a property tax rate, which is usually listed as dollars per $100 of assessed value. For example, $1.04 per $100.
• Your home’s value is then divided by $100 and multiplied by the rate. For example: Say your home is assessed at $250,000 and your city rate is $1.04. The math is 2,500 (since $250,000 / $100 = 2,500) x $1.04 = $2,600 total owed for the year.

Virginia doesn’t have a state-level property tax. All assessments and rates are handled by local governments, so you’ll find big differences between counties and cities. Some places with strong schools or more local services charge more.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how rates can look depending on where you live:

You usually get a bill in the mail after the assessment is done. That’s your cue to check the amount and make sure your assessment looks fair. If you think the county got it wrong—maybe their value is way higher than what houses are actually selling for on your street—you do have the right to appeal. It’s not a hassle, and sometimes you can shave a few hundred bucks off your bill.

If your home qualifies for special programs, like a homestead exemption or relief for seniors/veterans, you can knock even more off your Virginia property tax.

Typical Rates Across Counties

Virginia property tax rates can be all over the place, so it really comes down to your county or city. For example, Fairfax County, which covers the DC suburbs, had a property tax rate of $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for 2024. Just a bit south in Loudoun County, the rate was $0.89 per $100. Spotsylvania? Around $0.809 per $100. These aren’t huge numbers at first glance, but on a $400,000 home, that’s a big difference in what you’ll owe each year.

Here’s a quick look at some 2024 rates for popular areas in Virginia:

Some rural counties have rates under $0.70 per $100, while a handful of cities push past $1.20. This changes what you pay, even if the homes cost the same in two places. So, if you’re buying a house or looking to move, check property tax rates by county—don’t just guess based on home prices alone.

Another thing: cities and counties sometimes throw in extra rates for things like fire protection or garbage collection. These add-ons might look small on paper, but when you add them to your regular bill, you’ll definitely notice. Double-check the breakdown on your local tax site so you don’t get an unpleasant surprise later.

Paying Your Virginia Property Taxes

When it comes to actually paying your Virginia property tax bill, most counties break it into two installments—usually due in June and December. Miss a deadline? Expect a penalty, and interest starts racking up right after. Even a single day late is enough to get dinged, so mark your calendar.

Most localities send tax bills by mail a month or so before each due date. Don’t toss them aside—losing track can lead to late fees, and in Virginia, the local government doesn’t care if your bill got lost. It’s still up to you to pay on time. There are several easy ways to pay:

• Online: Most counties and cities let you pay right through their website, using a checking account, debit, or credit card. Some charge a small fee for using cards.
• By Mail: Send in a check or money order using the return envelope from your bill.
• In Person: If you’re old-school, you can pay at the local treasurer’s office. Some places have drop boxes for after-hours payments.
• Through Your Mortgage: If your lender handles your property taxes (called escrow), make sure they’re sending payments on time. Not all lenders notify you of payments, so check your annual escrow statement to stay on track.

If you’re wondering what penalties actually look like, here’s a sample breakdown using numbers from Fairfax County, one of the state’s larger localities:

So, a $3,000 tax bill gets a $300 penalty starting the day after your due date, and interest stacks up each month it goes unpaid. Not fun. If you’re struggling, reach out to your local tax office about payment plans—they will work with you before things get out of hand.

Want to set it and forget it? A lot of counties let you set up auto-debit, so you never miss a payment. Just double-check your bank balance ahead of time to dodge returned payments and, you guessed it, more fees.

Tips for Reducing Your Property Tax Bill

Let’s be real, nobody wants to pay more than they have to on their Virginia property tax. The good news? There are a few proven ways to score savings if you’re willing to be a little proactive.

• Check your assessment: If your home value looks too high on the county’s books, file an appeal. Every year, plenty of Virginia homeowners get their assessments lowered just by asking for a review. Grab your paperwork and a few photos or sales comparables. There’s a deadline for appeals, so don’t sleep on it—most counties set it between March and May.
• Look for exemptions and relief programs: Over 40% of Virginia counties offer property tax relief for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Sometimes there are income caps or age limits, so read the fine print. The City of Richmond, for example, has a Real Estate Tax Relief program for homeowners over 65 or totally disabled.
• Homestead doesn’t exist—yet: Unlike a lot of states, Virginia still doesn’t have a general homestead exemption for all homeowners. You can’t knock money off your main home just for living in it… but keep an eye on the news, because lawmakers float the idea every couple of years.
• Review improvements on record: Sometimes the county has additions or improvements listed that you never did—or maybe a deck you tore down years ago is still showing up. Straightening this out can bump your assessed value down a bit.

Check this out for a quick look at some relief limits from a few Virginia counties:

One expert from the Virginia Association of Counties says,

"Folks who check their assessments and file on time are the ones who see the most savings year after year."