Arlington County Tax Rates
Arlington County's advertised real estate tax rate is $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for FY2026, billed in two installments. The annual vehicle personal property tax rate is $5.00 per $100; Arlington applies PPTRA relief using a county-specific formula covering only the $3,001-$20,000 assessed value range. The combined sales tax rate is 6.0% under the Northern Virginia regional transportation district. All three tax types are covered below with official source notes and verification status.
Key Takeaways
- Real estate tax rate: $1.053 per $100 of assessed value (FY2026 advertised rate per county budget). The tax year 2025 adopted rate was $1.033 per $100 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Verify the current adopted rate with Arlington County before making financial decisions.
- Property taxes are billed in two installments: June 15 (first half) and October 5 (second half). Verify current due dates with Arlington County.
- Vehicle personal property tax rate: $5.00 per $100 of assessed value, confirmed from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025).
- PPTRA relief in Arlington applies only to the assessed value between $3,001 and $20,000 - not the standard first $20,000 used by most Virginia localities. The first $3,000 and value above $20,000 are taxed at the full $5.00 rate. Contact the Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current-year PPTRA percentage.
- Vehicle personal property tax is due October 5.
- Sales tax: 6.0%, the Northern Virginia regional rate (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% NoVA transportation). Qualifying groceries: 1.0%.
Arlington County Tax Rates - At a Glance
| Tax Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Tax | $1.053 per $100 | FY2026 advertised rate; TY2025 rate was $1.033 per DOT survey; assessed at 100% fair market value; two installments (Jun 15 / Oct 5) |
| Vehicle Personal Property Tax | $5.00 per $100 | PPTRA relief on $3,001-$20,000 assessed value only (Arlington-specific formula); due Oct 5 |
| Sales Tax | 6.0% | Northern Virginia regional rate; qualifying groceries 1.0% |
Real Estate Tax
Rate and Assessment
Arlington County's advertised real estate tax rate is $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for FY2026, as reflected in the county's adopted budget. The tax year 2025 rate was $1.033 per $100 as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by the Arlington County Board. Arlington County assesses all real property at 100% of fair market value.
Arlington County conducts annual general reassessments. Property owners who disagree with their assessed value may appeal through the Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments and, if unresolved, before the Board of Equalization of Real Estate Assessments.
Verification note: The FY2026 rate of $1.053 is the advertised rate from county budget documents. Confirm the current adopted rate at arlingtonva.us or by contacting the Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue at (703) 228-3135 before making financial decisions.
Payment Schedule
| Installment | Due Date |
|---|---|
| First installment (50% of annual bill) | June 15 |
| Second installment (50% of annual bill) | October 5 |
Verify current due dates with Arlington County before payment, as dates may shift for weekends or holidays. Late payment penalties apply.
Exemptions and Relief Programs
Arlington County offers a Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled program for qualifying seniors and permanently disabled individuals 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 Arlington 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); FY2026 advertised rate from county budget materials. Verify current rate at arlingtonva.us.
Vehicle Personal Property Tax
Rate and Assessment Method
Arlington County levies an annual personal property tax on vehicles registered in the county at a rate of $5.00 per $100 of assessed value. This rate is confirmed from the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey for tax year 2025. Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503, vehicles are assessed using a recognized pricing guide (typically NADA Clean Trade-In value) as of January 1 of the tax year.
PPTRA Relief - Arlington's Non-Standard Formula
Virginia's Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3524, provides partial state-funded relief for qualifying personal use vehicles. Arlington County uses a formula that differs from most Virginia localities.
Under the standard Virginia model, PPTRA relief applies to the first $20,000 of assessed value. Arlington's formula applies relief only to the portion of assessed value between $3,001 and $20,000 - a maximum eligible range of $17,000. Assessed value in the first $3,000 receives no state relief and is taxed at the full $5.00 rate. Value above $20,000 also receives no relief.
| Assessed Value Tier | PPTRA Relief Applied? |
|---|---|
| $0 to $3,000 | No - taxed at full $5.00/$100 rate |
| $3,001 to $20,000 | Yes - relief percentage applied to this portion only |
| Above $20,000 | No - taxed at full $5.00/$100 rate |
Virginia distributes a fixed annual block grant of $950 million among all localities. Arlington County calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage by dividing the county's share of that grant by the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the county. The relief percentage changes each year as vehicle values and the vehicle pool change.
PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue at (703) 228-3135 or visit arlingtonva.us to confirm the current-year PPTRA relief percentage before estimating your tax bill.
Payment Due Date
Vehicle personal property tax is due October 5. A late payment incurs a penalty. Verify the current due date with Arlington County Tax Administration before payment.
Rate source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source). PPTRA formula structure: Arlington County official policy; percentage pending confirmation via arlingtonva.us.
Sales Tax
Rate and Composition
The combined sales tax rate in Arlington County is 6.0%. Arlington County is within the Northern Virginia regional transportation district, which adds a 0.7% regional levy on top of the 5.3% statewide base rate.
| 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, not the buyer's residence. Virginia localities do not set their own sales tax rates; the 6.0% Arlington County 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 Arlington County annual vehicle personal property tax. Note: Arlington's PPTRA formula covers only the $3,001-$20,000 assessed value range.
LiveVirginia Property Tax Calculator
Estimate your Arlington County annual real estate tax based on assessed value.
LiveVirginia Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate sales tax on purchases in Arlington County at the 6.0% Northern Virginia rate.
LiveNeighboring Virginia Jurisdictions
Arlington County borders the following Virginia jurisdictions.
For statewide context and a complete list of Virginia jurisdictions, see Virginia County Tax Rates.
Official Sources
-
Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue
Official source for Arlington County real estate and personal property tax rates, assessments, PPTRA relief percentages, and exemption programs.
arlingtonva.us - Phone: (703) 228-3135 -
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, including the $20,000 assessed value threshold and the $950 million annual block grant structure.
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 official Arlington County and Virginia state government sources. The FY2026 real estate tax rate is the advertised rate from county budget materials; verify the current adopted rate with Arlington County. PPTRA relief percentage requires annual verification. Data last verified: April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Arlington County property tax rate?
Arlington County's advertised real estate tax rate is $1.053 per $100 of assessed value for FY2026, as reflected in county budget materials. The tax year 2025 adopted rate was $1.033 per $100 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Arlington County assesses property at 100% of fair market value. Taxes are billed in two installments: June 15 and October 5. Verify the current adopted rate at arlingtonva.us before making financial decisions.
How is Arlington County real estate assessed?
Arlington County assesses real property at 100% of fair market value and conducts annual general reassessments. Property owners who believe their assessment does not reflect fair market value may appeal through the Department of Real Estate Assessments and, if unresolved, before the Board of Equalization of Real Estate Assessments.
What is the Arlington County vehicle personal property tax rate?
Arlington County's general personal property tax rate is $5.00 per $100 of assessed value, confirmed from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey for tax year 2025. Vehicles are assessed using a recognized pricing guide as of January 1 of the tax year. PPTRA relief applies to the $3,001-$20,000 assessed value range using Arlington's county-specific formula. Vehicle personal property tax is due October 5.
How does PPTRA relief work in Arlington County?
Arlington County uses a non-standard PPTRA formula. Most Virginia localities apply PPTRA relief to the first $20,000 of assessed vehicle value. Arlington applies relief only to assessed value between $3,001 and $20,000 - a maximum eligible range of $17,000. The first $3,000 of assessed value and value above $20,000 are taxed at the full $5.00 rate with no state relief.
The annual relief percentage is calculated from Arlington County's share of Virginia's fixed $950 million annual PPTRA block grant. This percentage changes each year as vehicle values and the county vehicle pool change. Contact the Arlington County Commissioner of the Revenue at (703) 228-3135 to confirm the current-year PPTRA percentage.
What is the sales tax rate in Arlington County?
The combined sales tax rate in Arlington County 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 rather than the full 6.0% rate. The 6.0% rate is set by the Virginia General Assembly; Arlington County does not independently set its sales tax rate.
Does Arlington County have any incorporated towns with additional tax levies?
No. Arlington County has no incorporated towns within its boundaries. All residents of Arlington County pay the same county tax rates. Arlington is one of Virginia's most densely developed counties and operates entirely as a county jurisdiction with no separate municipal subdivisions.