City of Alexandria Tax Rates

The City of Alexandria is a Virginia independent city with its own real estate and vehicle tax rates, separate from surrounding Arlington County and Fairfax County. The most recently reported real estate tax rate is $1.135 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT survey). The general personal property tax rate is $5.33 per $100. The combined sales tax rate is 6.0% under the Northern Virginia regional transportation district. Verify current adopted rates with the City of Alexandria before making financial decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Alexandria is a Virginia independent city - it sets its own tax rates independently of Arlington County and Fairfax County. If you live in Alexandria, your property and vehicle taxes go to the City, not a county.
  • Real estate tax rate: $1.135 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Alexandria Department of Finance.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $5.33 per $100 (general personal property rate, tax year 2025 per DOT survey). The Virginia DOT notes that certain items including vehicles may be taxed at a different rate as a separate classification. Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current personal use vehicle rate.
  • PPTRA relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles. Contact the Alexandria Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current-year PPTRA relief percentage.
  • Sales tax: 6.0%, the Northern Virginia regional rate (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% NoVA transportation). Qualifying groceries: 1.0%.

City of Alexandria Tax Rates - At a Glance

City of Alexandria Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $1.135 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; assessed at 100% fair market value; verify current rate with City of Alexandria
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $5.33 per $100 General personal property rate, TY2025 per DOT survey; personal use vehicle rate may differ; PPTRA relief applies; verify current rate
Sales Tax 6.0% Northern Virginia regional rate; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Alexandria as an Independent City

The City of Alexandria is one of Virginia's 38 independent cities - a municipality legally and administratively separate from any surrounding county. Alexandria residents pay real estate tax to the City of Alexandria, not to Arlington County or Fairfax County, regardless of the city's geographic position within the Northern Virginia region. The City of Alexandria sets its own real estate tax rate, assessment practices, and exemption programs independently.

Rate and Assessment

The City of Alexandria's real estate tax rate was $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. Alexandria assesses real property at 100% of fair market value. The rate is set annually by the Alexandria City Council.

Verification note: The $1.135 rate is from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey for tax year 2025 (most recently published official source in this data layer). Verify the current adopted rate at alexandriava.gov or by contacting the Alexandria Department of Finance before making financial decisions.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

The City of Alexandria offers tax relief programs for qualifying senior citizens and disabled residents with income and net worth below published thresholds. Disabled veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled may qualify for a full real estate tax exemption on their primary residence under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219.5. Contact the Alexandria Commissioner of the Revenue or Department of Finance for current eligibility thresholds and application procedures.

Source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source). Verify current rate at alexandriava.gov.

Vehicle Personal Property Tax

Rate and Assessment Method

The City of Alexandria's general personal property tax rate was $5.33 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 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 Alexandria may differ from the $5.33 general rate. Contact the Alexandria 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 qualifying personal use vehicles. Virginia distributes a fixed annual block grant of $950 million among all localities. The City of Alexandria calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage based on its share of that grant and the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the city. This percentage changes each year.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Alexandria Commissioner of the Revenue or visit alexandriava.gov to confirm the current-year vehicle personal property tax rate and PPTRA relief percentage.

Source

Rate source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source). General personal property rate only; personal use vehicle rate may differ per separate classification rules.

Sales Tax

Rate and Composition

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Alexandria is 6.0%. Alexandria is within the Northern Virginia regional transportation district, which adds a 0.7% regional levy on top of the 5.3% statewide base rate.

City of Alexandria Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate 4.3%
Local rate 1.0%
Northern Virginia regional transportation levy 0.7%
Combined rate 6.0%

Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% state rate rather than the full 6.0% combined rate. The applicable rate for any transaction depends on the location of the sale. Virginia localities do not set their own sales tax rates; the 6.0% Alexandria rate is authorized by the Virginia General Assembly through legislation governing the Northern Virginia regional transportation district.

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: Alexandria vehicle rates should be verified directly with the city before using.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your City of Alexandria annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in City of Alexandria at the 6.0% Northern Virginia rate.

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Neighboring Virginia Jurisdictions

The City of Alexandria is bordered by the following Virginia jurisdictions.

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

Official Sources

  • City of Alexandria - Official City Website
    Official source for Alexandria real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
    alexandriava.gov
  • 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, including the Northern Virginia transportation district rate and the reduced grocery rate.
    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, including the recognized pricing guide requirement.
    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 the City of Alexandria before making financial decisions. Data last verified: April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alexandria a county or a city for tax purposes?

Alexandria is a Virginia independent city - legally and administratively separate from any surrounding county. For property tax and vehicle tax purposes, Alexandria residents are taxed by the City of Alexandria government, not by Arlington County or Fairfax County. The City of Alexandria sets its own real estate tax rate and personal property tax rate independently. Virginia has 38 independent cities that function as their own county-equivalent taxing jurisdictions.

What is the City of Alexandria property tax rate?

The City of Alexandria's real estate tax rate was $1.135 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Alexandria assesses real property at 100% of fair market value. The rate is set annually by the Alexandria City Council. Verify the current adopted rate at alexandriava.gov before making financial decisions.

What is the City of Alexandria vehicle personal property tax rate?

The City of Alexandria's general personal property tax rate was $5.33 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT survey. The personal use vehicle rate may differ, as Virginia localities can classify vehicles as a separate property class. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles. Contact the Alexandria Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Alexandria?

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Alexandria is 6.0%: 4.3% Virginia state rate + 1.0% local rate + 0.7% Northern Virginia regional transportation district levy. Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to the reduced 1.0% Virginia state rate. The 6.0% rate is set by the Virginia General Assembly.

Do Alexandria residents pay Fairfax County or Arlington County taxes?

No. Alexandria is an independent city, separate from both Fairfax County and Arlington County. Alexandria residents pay property tax, vehicle personal property tax, and other local taxes to the City of Alexandria government only. They do not pay county-level taxes to either adjacent county. This is one of the distinctive features of Virginia's local government structure.