Albemarle County Tax Rates

Albemarle County's real estate tax rate was $0.895 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $4.28 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 5.3% - Albemarle County is in the general Virginia tier and is not part of any elevated-rate regional transportation district. Verify current adopted rates with Albemarle County before making financial decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $0.895 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with Albemarle County.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $4.28 per $100 (general personal property rate, TY2025 per DOT survey). The Virginia DOT notes that vehicles may be classified as a separate class and taxed at a different rate. Confirm the current personal use vehicle rate with the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue.
  • PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. The annual relief percentage is set by the county and changes each year. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • Sales tax: 5.3%, the general Virginia rate (4.3% state + 1.0% local). Albemarle County is not in any regional transportation district. Qualifying groceries: 1.0%.
  • Note: The City of Charlottesville is an independent city located within Albemarle County's geographic area but is a separate jurisdiction with its own tax rates.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with Albemarle County. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Albemarle County Tax Rates - At a Glance

Albemarle County Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $0.895 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; verify current rate with Albemarle County
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $4.28 per $100 General personal property rate TY2025 per DOT survey; personal use vehicle rate may differ; PPTRA relief on first $20,000; verify current rate
Sales Tax 5.3% General Virginia rate; not in any elevated-rate regional district; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Albemarle County's real estate tax rate was $0.895 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. Albemarle County surrounds the City of Charlottesville in central Virginia and includes the University of Virginia grounds. The rate is set annually by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.

Note that the City of Charlottesville is an independent city - legally and administratively separate from Albemarle County. If you live within Charlottesville city limits, county rates do not apply to you; your taxes are set by the City of Charlottesville.

Verification note: Rates are from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025). Verify the current adopted rate at albemarle.org or by contacting the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue before making financial decisions.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Albemarle County offers real estate tax relief programs for qualifying senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled may qualify for a full exemption under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue for current eligibility thresholds and application procedures.

Source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source).

Vehicle Personal Property Tax

Rate and Assessment Method

Albemarle County's general personal property tax rate was $4.28 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503, localities assess vehicles using a recognized pricing guide (typically J.D. Power Clean Trade-In value) as of January 1 of the tax year.

Important note on rate classification: The Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey reports the general tangible personal property rate. The DOT survey explicitly states that "certain items of property, including vehicles, may be considered separate classifications and may be taxed at a different tax rate." The current personal use vehicle rate in Albemarle County may differ from the $4.28 general rate. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the rate that applies to your vehicle.

PPTRA Relief

Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3524, provides partial state-funded relief on the first $20,000 of assessed value for qualifying personal use vehicles. Virginia distributes a fixed annual block grant of $950 million among all localities. Albemarle County calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage based on its share of that grant and the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the county. This percentage changes each year.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue or visit albemarle.org to confirm the current-year vehicle personal property tax rate and PPTRA relief percentage.

Rate source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source).

Sales Tax

Rate and Composition

The combined sales tax rate in Albemarle County is 5.3%. Albemarle County is in the general Virginia tier - it is not part of the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Central Virginia, or Historic Triangle regional transportation districts. The 5.3% rate applies to most taxable sales made within Albemarle County.

Albemarle County Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate 4.3%
Local rate 1.0%
Combined rate 5.3%

Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% state rate. Virginia localities do not set their own sales tax rates; the 5.3% Albemarle County rate reflects the statewide base rate with no regional transportation add-on. Charlottesville city, while geographically surrounded by Albemarle County, is also in the 5.3% general tier.

Source: Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax (tax.virginia.gov)

Virginia Tax Tools

Virginia Car Tax Calculator

Estimate your annual vehicle personal property tax. Note: Albemarle County rates should be confirmed directly with the county before use.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your Albemarle County annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in Albemarle County at the 5.3% General Virginia rate.

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Neighboring Virginia Jurisdictions

Albemarle County is located in central Virginia surrounding Charlottesville.

For statewide context and a complete list of Virginia jurisdictions, see Virginia County Tax Rates.

Official Sources

  • Albemarle County - Official Website
    Official source for Albemarle County real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, assessment methods, and payment schedules.
    albemarle.org
  • Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025
    Official statewide survey of real estate and personal property tax rates for all Virginia localities, compiled annually by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
    tax.virginia.gov/local-tax-rates
  • Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax
    Official source for Virginia sales tax rates by region.
    tax.virginia.gov/retail-sales-and-use-tax
  • Code of Virginia § 58.1-3524 - Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA)
    Statutory authority for Virginia's vehicle personal property tax relief program.
    law.lis.virginia.gov - PPTRA statutory reference
  • Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503 - Assessment of Personal Property
    Statutory authority for vehicle assessment methodology in Virginia.
    law.lis.virginia.gov - § 58.1-3503

Tax rates are sourced from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025) and the Virginia Department of Taxation. Rates change annually - verify current figures with Albemarle County before making financial decisions. Data last verified: April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Albemarle County property tax rate?

Albemarle County's real estate tax rate was $0.895 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. Verify the current adopted rate at albemarle.org.

What is the Albemarle County vehicle personal property tax rate?

Albemarle County's general personal property rate was $4.28 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT survey. The personal use vehicle rate may differ because Virginia localities can classify vehicles as a separate property class with a different rate. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Albemarle County?

The combined sales tax rate in Albemarle County is 5.3%: 4.3% Virginia state rate + 1.0% local rate. Albemarle County is not in any regional transportation district (not Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Central Virginia, or Historic Triangle). Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to the reduced 1.0% Virginia state rate.

Do Charlottesville residents pay Albemarle County taxes?

No. Charlottesville is an independent city - legally and administratively separate from Albemarle County. Charlottesville residents pay taxes to the City of Charlottesville, not to Albemarle County. If you live within the Charlottesville city limits, the county's property tax rate and vehicle tax rate do not apply to you. Each jurisdiction has its own separately adopted rates.

How does PPTRA vehicle tax relief work in Albemarle County?

Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) provides partial state-funded relief on the first $20,000 of assessed value for qualifying personal use vehicles. Virginia distributes a fixed $950 million annual block grant among all localities. Albemarle County calculates its annual relief percentage by dividing the county's share of that grant by the total qualifying vehicle value in the county. The percentage changes each year as vehicle values and the vehicle pool change. Vehicle value above $20,000 receives no state relief and is taxed at the full $4.28 rate. Contact the Albemarle County Commissioner of the Revenue for the current year's confirmed PPTRA relief percentage.