Virginia Sales Tax Calculator 2026
Use this calculator to estimate Virginia sales tax using the statewide rate, average combined rate, and local tax rules where applicable.
How to Calculate Virginia Sales Tax
Use these formulas to estimate the sales tax on any purchase in Virginia. The estimated combined rate is 5.63% (4.30% state + 1.33% average local).
Formula: Sales Tax = Price × (Rate ÷ 100)
$100 Example: $100.00 × (5.63 ÷ 100) = $5.63 in sales tax.
Total: $100.00 + $5.63 = $105.63
Reverse formula: Original Price = Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100). To find the pre-tax price from a receipt, divide the total by 1 + (5.63 ÷ 100).
Need to Calculate the Pre-Tax Price Instead?
If you have the total receipt or checkout price and need to work backward to find the original item price before tax was added, use our specialized tool.
Major Virginia City Sales Tax Rates
Sales tax rates in Virginia vary by city and county. Click any city link to use the city-specific calculator.
| City | County | Combined Rate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | Alexandria | 6.000% | Alexandria sales tax rate → |
| Arlington | Arlington | 6.000% | Arlington sales tax rate → |
| Blacksburg | Blacksburg | 5.300% | Blacksburg sales tax rate → |
| Charlottesville | Charlottesville | 5.300% | Charlottesville sales tax rate → |
| Chesapeake | Chesapeake | 6.000% | Chesapeake sales tax rate → |
| Chesterfield County | Chesterfield | 6.000% | Chesterfield County sales tax rate → |
| Danville | Danville | 6.300% | Danville sales tax rate → |
| Fairfax City | Fairfax | 6.000% | Fairfax City sales tax rate → |
| Fairfax County | Fairfax | 6.000% | Fairfax County sales tax rate → |
| Fredericksburg | Fredericksburg | 5.300% | Fredericksburg sales tax rate → |
| Hampton | Hampton | 6.000% | Hampton sales tax rate → |
| Harrisonburg | Harrisonburg | 5.300% | Harrisonburg sales tax rate → |
Virginia Sales Tax Rate Quick Facts
Virginia has a 5.30% standard sales tax rate in most locations, but several regions and localities use higher rates. The common combined rate can be 5.30%, 6.00%, 6.30%, or 7.00%, depending on the city, county, delivery location, product category, grocery treatment, software delivery method, accommodations, remote seller status, and whether the sale involves vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, or other special categories.
How to Use the Virginia Sales Tax Calculator
For most Virginia locations, use 5.30%. Use 6.00% for Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Central Virginia. Use 6.30% for selected higher-rate localities like Danville. Use 7.00% for James City County, Williamsburg, and York County. For grocery food and certain essential personal hygiene products, use 1.00% statewide.
How Virginia Sales Tax Works
Virginia sales and use tax applies to the sale, lease, or rental of tangible personal property in or for use in Virginia, plus accommodations and certain taxable services. Virginia has a standard 5.30% rate in most locations and several regional or locality-specific higher rates: 6.00% (Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Central Virginia), 6.30% (selected localities), and 7.00% (James City County, Williamsburg, York County). Virginia also has a statewide 1.00% reduced rate for food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products. Independent cities can be legally separate from surrounding counties.
Virginia Sales Tax Formula
Standard Sales Tax Formula
Virginia Sales Tax Examples
Example 1: $100 Purchase in Most of Virginia (5.30%)
Example 2: $250 Purchase in Virginia Beach (6.00%)
Example 3: $100 Grocery Purchase (1.00%)
Example 4: $100 Purchase in Williamsburg (7.00%)
Example 5: Reverse Sales Tax
Receipt total is $106.00, combined rate was 6.00%.
Major Virginia City Sales Tax Rates
Verify every locality with Virginia's official Sales Tax Rate and Locality Code Lookup. Virginia has independent cities, regional add-ons, and special localities, so exact locality code matters.
Why Sales Tax Varies in Virginia
Virginia sales tax varies because the state has a standard general rate plus regional and locality-specific add-ons. The standard rate is 5.30%, but Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Central Virginia use 6.00%. Selected localities use 6.30%, and James City County, Williamsburg, and York County use 7.00%. Virginia also has a statewide 1.00% reduced rate for food for home consumption. Virginia's independent cities can be confusing — a city and county with the same name can be different taxing localities.
What Is Taxable in Virginia?
Online Purchases and Remote Sellers in Virginia
Online purchases delivered into Virginia may be subject to Virginia sales or use tax. Remote sellers must register and collect when they make more than $100,000 in annual Virginia gross sales or 200 or more transactions to Virginia customers. Marketplace facilitators have the same threshold. Marketplace sellers usually do not need to collect on marketplace sales when the facilitator is responsible, but direct sales outside the marketplace may create a separate duty.
Virginia Grocery and Personal Hygiene Tax Notes
Virginia has a statewide 1.00% rate for food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products. Most staple grocery items and cold prepared foods packaged for home consumption qualify. Items that do not qualify include alcoholic beverages, tobacco, prepared hot foods, and seeds/plants used to grow food. Certain vendors (caterers, concession stands, movie theaters, ice cream trucks, etc.) are presumed to sell food for immediate consumption and cannot charge the reduced rate.
Virginia Software, SaaS, and Digital Product Notes
Virginia distinguishes between tangible and electronic software delivery. Prewritten software on tangible media is generally taxable. Electronically delivered software is generally not taxable when no tangible medium is furnished and the seller documents electronic delivery. SaaS and cloud software are usually not taxable if no tangible property is exchanged, but bundled transactions require review. Custom software is generally different from prewritten software. Businesses should document electronic delivery with invoices or contracts.
Virginia Accommodations and Lodging Notes
Short-term lodging in Virginia is subject to Virginia retail sales tax on the total charge. Fees charged by booking agents, online travel companies, and accommodations intermediaries can also be subject to tax. Local transient occupancy taxes and tourism fees are separate from ordinary retail sales tax. For short-term rental bookings, the intermediary may be responsible for reporting tax on the entire transaction.
Virginia Sales Tax Holiday Notes
Virginia has an annual August sales tax holiday for qualifying school supplies, clothing and footwear, hurricane and emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star or WaterSense products. Current-year dates and price limits should be verified before publication.
Common Virginia Sales Tax Mistakes
- Using only 5.30% for every Virginia location.
- Forgetting Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Central Virginia use 6.00%.
- Forgetting James City County, Williamsburg, and York County use 7.00%.
- Forgetting selected localities such as Danville use 6.30%.
- Confusing Virginia independent cities with counties.
- Treating grocery food as fully exempt instead of taxed at 1.00%.
- Applying the 1.00% grocery rate to hot prepared food, restaurant meals, or alcohol.
- Treating all software as taxable when electronically delivered.
- Failing to document electronic delivery of software.
- Treating SaaS like taxable tangible software without checking whether tangible property is transferred.
- Treating lodging, vehicle, vending machine, tire, and digital media fees like ordinary retail sales tax.
- Missing the $100,000 or 200-transaction remote seller threshold.
- Hard-coding outdated sales tax holiday dates.
Virginia Sales Tax for Businesses
Businesses selling taxable goods, accommodations, prepared food, or other taxable items in Virginia may need to register, collect, file, and remit. The first issue is the rate (5.30%, 6.00%, 6.30%, or 7.00%). The second is product classification. The third is software delivery documentation. The fourth is remote seller and marketplace treatment. Keep records of taxable sales, exempt sales, resale certificates, food classifications, software/SaaS contracts, electronic delivery documentation, locality codes, marketplace sales, and sales tax holiday transactions.
Official Virginia Sales Tax Sources
- Virginia Tax — Retail Sales and Use Tax
- Virginia Tax — Rate and Locality Code Lookup
- Virginia Tax — Grocery Tax
- Virginia Tax — Sales Tax Exemptions
- Virginia Tax — Remote Sellers and Economic Nexus
- Virginia Tax — Retail Sales Tax on Accommodations
- Virginia Tax — Software and Digital Products
- Virginia Tax — Sales Tax Holiday
- Virginia Tax — Consumer's Use Tax
- Tax Foundation — State Sales Tax Rates
Last reviewed: June 2026. Rates and rules can change.
What Is Taxable in Virginia?
In Virginia, sales tax generally applies to most tangible personal property and some services. The exact taxability of specific items can vary based on state and local rules.
Groceries: Groceries and unprepared food items are exempt from Virginia sales tax.
SaaS / Software: Generally exempt from Virginia sales tax for electronically delivered software accessed remotely.
Taxability can vary by item type and local rules. Common taxable items typically include tangible personal property, while some exemptions may apply. Check the official state source for business decisions.
Online Purchases and Remote Sellers in Virginia
Under the South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, remote sellers may be required to collect and remit sales tax in Virginia if they cross the state's economic nexus threshold.
Nexus threshold: $100,000 in gross sales or 200 transactions
Businesses crossing this threshold may need to register with the state and begin collecting the appropriate combined state and local rates. Verify specific obligations with the state taxing authority.
Virginia Sales Tax Compliance Guide for Businesses
Businesses collecting sales tax in Virginia must file regular returns and remit collected tax to the Virginia Department of Taxation. Filing frequency depends on your sales volume — typically monthly for high-volume sellers, quarterly for mid-range, and annually for low-volume filers.
Returns are generally due on the 20th of the month following the reporting period. Late filings accrue penalties (typically 5% per month up to 25%) plus interest on unpaid tax. Most states require electronic filing (e-file) once your tax liability exceeds a threshold.
Keep detailed records of all sales, tax collected, exemption certificates, and filed returns for at least 4 years (longer in some states). The Virginia Department of Taxation may audit your sales tax records — maintaining organized records reduces audit risk and simplifies the response process.
For multi-state sellers, use our Multi-State Sales Tax Calculator to estimate obligations across jurisdictions, or the Sales Tax Reconciliation Calculator to match collected tax to filing amounts.
Official Virginia Sales Tax Resources
For official rates, registration, and filing guidance, visit the Virginia Department of Taxation. Always verify current rates with the official state source before making business or compliance decisions.
For informational purposes only. Tax rates change frequently — verify with your state's Department of Revenue before filing. This tool is not a substitute for professional tax advice.
· Rates verified quarterly from the Tax Foundation and state Departments of Revenue.
2026 sales tax rates by state
Select a state to see its detailed 2026 sales tax calculator and formula.
| State | State Rate | Avg. Local | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4.00% | 5.44% | 9.44% |
| Alaska | 0.00% | 1.76% | 1.76% |
| Arizona | 5.60% | 2.77% | 8.37% |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | 2.98% | 9.48% |
| California | 7.25% | 1.57% | 8.82% |
| Colorado | 2.90% | 4.82% | 7.72% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 0.00% | 6.35% |
| Delaware | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Florida | 6.00% | 1.05% | 7.05% |
| Georgia | 4.00% | 3.37% | 7.37% |
| Hawaii | 4.00% | 0.44% | 4.44% |
| Idaho | 6.00% | 0.02% | 6.02% |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 2.49% | 8.74% |
| Indiana | 7.00% | 0.00% | 7.00% |
| Iowa | 6.00% | 0.94% | 6.94% |
| Kansas | 6.50% | 2.20% | 8.70% |
| Kentucky | 6.00% | 0.00% | 6.00% |
| Louisiana | 5.00% | 5.11% | 10.11% |
| Maine | 5.50% | 0.00% | 5.50% |
| Maryland | 6.00% | 0.00% | 6.00% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 0.00% | 6.25% |
| Michigan | 6.00% | 0.00% | 6.00% |
| Minnesota | 6.88% | 0.58% | 7.45% |
| Mississippi | 7.00% | 0.07% | 7.07% |
| Missouri | 4.22% | 4.10% | 8.33% |
| Montana | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Nebraska | 5.50% | 1.46% | 6.96% |
| Nevada | 6.85% | 1.38% | 8.23% |
| New Hampshire | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| New Jersey | 6.63% | 0.00% | 6.63% |
| New Mexico | 5.00% | 2.73% | 7.73% |
| New York | 4.00% | 4.52% | 8.52% |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 2.22% | 6.97% |
| North Dakota | 5.00% | 1.85% | 6.85% |
| Ohio | 5.75% | 1.48% | 7.23% |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% | 4.47% | 8.97% |
| Oregon | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Pennsylvania | 6.00% | 0.34% | 6.34% |
| Rhode Island | 7.00% | 0.00% | 7.00% |
| South Carolina | 6.00% | 1.43% | 7.43% |
| South Dakota | 4.20% | 1.90% | 6.10% |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | 2.61% | 9.61% |
| Texas | 6.25% | 1.95% | 8.20% |
| Utah | 4.85% | 2.21% | 7.06% |
| Vermont | 6.00% | 0.24% | 6.24% |
| Virginia | 4.30% | 1.33% | 5.63% |
| Washington | 6.50% | 2.97% | 9.47% |
| Washington D.C. | 6.00% | 0.00% | 6.00% |
| West Virginia | 6.00% | 0.39% | 6.39% |
| Wisconsin | 5.00% | 0.44% | 5.44% |
| Wyoming | 4.00% | 1.36% | 5.36% |
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions users ask.
What is the sales tax rate in Virginia in 2026?
What is the average combined sales tax rate in Virginia?
Does Virginia have local sales tax?
What is the sales tax rate in Virginia Beach?
What is the sales tax rate in Richmond, Virginia?
What is the sales tax rate in Arlington, Virginia?
What is the sales tax rate in Williamsburg, Virginia?
All rates, thresholds, and regulatory guidance cited on this page are sourced from official government publications and non-partisan research institutions.
Federal & National Sources
IRS Sales Tax Calculator
The official Internal Revenue Service tool for determining deductible state and local sales tax for federal income tax purposes.
irs.govU.S. Census Bureau
Official government repository for quarterly state and local tax revenue statistics and government finance data.
census.govSupreme Court — Wayfair Decision
The official government opinion for South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., establishing modern economic nexus standards for remote sellers.
supremecourt.govSBA Business Tax Guide
Official Small Business Administration guidance on understanding federal and state tax obligations for small business owners.
sba.govStreamlined Sales Tax Board
The official inter-governmental organization facilitating the simplification of sales tax administration across 24 member states.
streamlinedsalestax.orgTaxesLedger is an independent educational tool. We are not affiliated with any government agency. Rates are verified quarterly; always confirm with your jurisdiction's official Department of Revenue before filing. Last verification: May 15, 2026.
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