City of Fairfax, Virginia Tax Rates

Q: Is the City of Fairfax the same as Fairfax County?

No. The City of Fairfax is an independent city in Virginia and is NOT the same jurisdiction as Fairfax County, even though the city is geographically surrounded by the county. Independent cities in Virginia are county-equivalent units that set their own tax rates separate from any surrounding county. The City of Fairfax and Fairfax County have different real estate, vehicle, and sales tax structures. Make sure you are checking the correct jurisdiction before estimating any tax.

Q: What is the City of Fairfax property tax rate?

The City of Fairfax citywide real estate tax rate was $1.055 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey. Properties inside the Old Town Service District pay an additional $0.080 per $100 service district levy on real estate (total $1.135). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Fairfax before making financial decisions.

Q: What is the City of Fairfax vehicle personal property tax rate?

The City of Fairfax general personal property tax rate was $4.13 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The DOT survey notes that vehicles may be classified as a separate class and taxed at a different rate. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles. Contact the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current personal use vehicle rate and PPTRA relief percentage.

Q: What is the sales tax rate in the City of Fairfax?

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Fairfax is 6.0%: 4.3% Virginia state rate + 1.0% local rate + 0.7% Northern Virginia regional transportation tax. The City of Fairfax is part of the Northern Virginia regional transportation district, like the surrounding Fairfax County and Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington counties. Qualifying food and grocery items are taxed at the reduced 1.0% Virginia state rate.

The City of Fairfax citywide real estate tax rate was $1.055 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $4.13 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). Properties inside the Old Town Service District are subject to an additional $0.080/$100 real-estate levy (total $1.135). The combined sales tax rate is 6.0% because the City of Fairfax is in the Northern Virginia regional transportation district. Important: The City of Fairfax is an independent city - it is NOT the same jurisdiction as Fairfax County. See Fairfax County tax rates for the surrounding county.

Key Takeaways

City of Fairfax is NOT Fairfax County. The City of Fairfax is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction with its own tax rates. It is geographically surrounded by Fairfax County but operates as a separate local government.
City real estate tax rate: $1.055 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey).
Old Town Service District overlay (Table 5): adds $0.080 per $100 to real estate inside the district. Total inside Old Town Service District: $1.135 per $100.
Vehicle personal property tax rate: $4.13 per $100 general city 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 City of Fairfax 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 city and changes each year. Contact the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
Sales tax: 6.0% - the City of Fairfax is in the Northern Virginia regional transportation district (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% NoVA regional).
City Machinery and Tools tax: $4.13 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - applies to business tangible personal property; matches the general TPP rate.
The City of Fairfax has population approximately 25,000 and is part of the Washington, DC metro area (NoVA). It is geographically surrounded by Fairfax County (live).
Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with the City of Fairfax. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Disambiguation: City of Fairfax vs. Fairfax County

Virginia has both a City of Fairfax (independent city, ~25,000 residents) and a Fairfax County (~1.15 million residents). They are separate local governments with separate tax rates, separate Commissioner of the Revenue offices, and separate Treasurers. The City of Fairfax sits geographically inside Fairfax County but operates independently of it under Virginia's independent-city system.

If you live in or own property in the surrounding county, you want Fairfax County tax rates, not this page.

City of Fairfax Tax Rates - At a Glance

City of Fairfax Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type	City Rate	Old Town Service District Overlay	Total Inside Old Town SD
Real Estate	$1.055 per $100	+$0.080 per $100	$1.135 per $100
General Personal Property	$4.130 per $100	No service district overlay (Table 5 reports RE only)
Machinery and Tools	$4.130 per $100	No service district overlay
Sales Tax	6.0% (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% Northern Virginia regional; qualifying groceries 1.0%)

All rates from Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (Tables 2 and 5). Verify current adopted rates with the City of Fairfax.

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

The City of Fairfax real estate tax rate was $1.055 per $100 of assessed value citywide for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey Table 2 (City Levies). The rate is set annually by the City of Fairfax City Council.

Properties inside the Old Town Service District are subject to an additional service-district real estate levy of $0.080 per $100 on top of the city rate (Virginia DOT TY2025 Table 5 - Special Service District Tax Rates - Cities). Total real estate tax inside the Old Town Service District is $1.135 per $100. Properties outside the service district pay only the $1.055 city rate.

Verification note: Rates are from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025). Verify the current adopted city rate at fairfaxva.gov or by contacting the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue. Verify Old Town Service District boundaries before applying the overlay rate.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

The City of Fairfax offers tax relief programs for qualifying senior citizens and disabled residents. 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 City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue for current eligibility thresholds and procedures.

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

Vehicle Personal Property Tax

Rate and Assessment Method

The City of Fairfax general personal property tax rate was $4.13 per $100 of assessed value citywide 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 the City of Fairfax may differ from the $4.13 general rate. Contact the City of Fairfax 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. The City of Fairfax 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. For a deeper explanation of how PPTRA works, see our Virginia PPTRA explained guide.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue or visit fairfaxva.gov 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 the City of Fairfax is 6.0%. The City of Fairfax is part of the Northern Virginia regional transportation district, which adds a 0.7% regional levy on top of the standard 5.3% Virginia rate. The same NoVA regional rate applies in the surrounding Fairfax County and in Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington counties.

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

Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% state rate. The same 6.0% rate applies in adjacent NoVA jurisdictions including Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Arlington County, and City of Alexandria.

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: City of Fairfax rates should be confirmed directly with the city before use. Make sure you select City of Fairfax, not Fairfax County.

Live

Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your City of Fairfax annual real estate tax based on assessed value. Add the Old Town Service District overlay if your property is inside the district.

Live

Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

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

Live

Other Virginia Jurisdictions

The City of Fairfax is part of the NoVA core. Compare nearby live jurisdictions:

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

Official Sources

City of Fairfax - Official Website
Official source for City of Fairfax real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, Old Town Service District boundaries, and payment schedules.
fairfaxva.gov
Virginia Department of Taxation - Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025
Official statewide survey of real estate, tangible personal property, machinery and tools, and merchants' capital tax rates for all Virginia localities. Includes the City of Fairfax in Table 2 (City Levies) and the Old Town Service District in Table 5 (Special Service District Tax Rates - Cities).
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 the City of Fairfax before making financial decisions. Data last verified: May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the City of Fairfax the same as Fairfax County?

No. The City of Fairfax is an independent city - a separate local government from Fairfax County, even though the city is geographically surrounded by the county. Independent cities in Virginia are county-equivalent units that set their own tax rates. The City of Fairfax (~25,000 residents) and Fairfax County (~1.15 million residents) have different real estate, vehicle, and sales tax rates and different administrative offices. If you want the surrounding county, see Fairfax County tax rates.

What is the City of Fairfax property tax rate?

The City of Fairfax citywide real estate tax rate was $1.055 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Properties inside the Old Town Service District pay an additional $0.080/$100 (total $1.135). Verify the current adopted rate at fairfaxva.gov.

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

The City of Fairfax general personal property rate was $4.13 per $100 of assessed value citywide 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. PPTRA state relief applies on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Contact the City of Fairfax Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in the City of Fairfax?

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Fairfax is 6.0% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% local + 0.7% Northern Virginia regional transportation tax). The same NoVA regional rate applies in surrounding Fairfax County and the rest of NoVA core (Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, Alexandria, Manassas).

Does the Old Town Service District in the City of Fairfax charge additional taxes?

Yes. Per the Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey Table 5 (Special Service District Tax Rates - Cities), the Old Town Service District adds $0.080 per $100 to real estate inside the named district. Total real estate tax inside the Old Town Service District is $1.135 per $100. The service district levy applies only to real estate inside its defined boundaries. Verify district boundaries with the City of Fairfax.