Martinsville, Virginia Tax Rates

Martinsville's real estate tax rate was $0.990 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general tangible personal property tax rate was $2.300 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 5.3%. Martinsville is an independent city in Southside Virginia, separate from surrounding Henry County. The city's proposed FY2026-27 budget includes a recommended real estate rate increase - verify the current adopted rate with the City of Martinsville before making financial decisions.

Rates verified May 2026. See our methodology for sourcing and update cadence.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $0.990 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). The city's proposed FY2026-27 budget includes a recommended rate increase - verify the current adopted rate with the City of Martinsville.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $2.300 per $100 (general tangible 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 Martinsville 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 Martinsville Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • Sales tax: 5.3% (4.3% state + 1.0% standard local). Note: the surrounding Henry County is 6.3%, but that higher rate does not apply inside Martinsville city limits.
  • Machinery and Tools tax: $1.850 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - applies to business tangible personal property. Martinsville does not levy a merchants' capital tax.
  • Martinsville is an independent city, geographically surrounded by Henry County but legally separate. The two are distinct jurisdictions with their own rates.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with the City of Martinsville. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Martinsville Tax Rates - At a Glance

Martinsville Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $0.990 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; FY2026-27 increase proposed; verify current adopted rate with the City of Martinsville
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $2.300 per $100 General tangible personal property rate TY2025 per DOT survey; personal use vehicle rate may differ; PPTRA relief on first $20,000; verify current rate
Machinery and Tools $1.850 per $100 TY2025 per DOT survey (business tangible personal property)
Sales Tax 5.3% 4.3% state + 1.0% local; qualifying groceries 1.0%; Henry County's 6.3% does not apply in the city

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Martinsville's real estate tax rate was $0.990 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey. Martinsville is an independent city in Southside Virginia, a former textile and furniture manufacturing center, and the home of Martinsville Speedway. The rate is set annually by Martinsville City Council. The city's proposed FY2026-27 budget includes a recommended real estate tax rate increase, which would take effect only if adopted by City Council.

Verification note: Rates are from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025). The published TY2025 rate is $0.990/$100; a FY2026-27 increase has been proposed but not necessarily adopted. Verify the current adopted rate at martinsville-va.gov or by contacting the Martinsville Commissioner of the Revenue before making financial decisions.

Service Districts

Martinsville has no city service-district levies in the Virginia DOT Table 5 for tax year 2025. The base $0.990/$100 rate applies citywide.

Independent City Status

Martinsville is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. It became an independent city in 1928 and is geographically surrounded by, but legally and administratively separate from, Henry County. If you live in Martinsville, your local property and vehicle taxes are set by the Martinsville city government, not by Henry County. The two jurisdictions set their own rates: see Henry County tax rates for the surrounding county.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Martinsville offers real estate tax relief for qualifying senior citizens and residents with disabilities. 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 Martinsville 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

Martinsville's general tangible personal property tax rate was $2.300 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 Martinsville may differ from the $2.300 general rate. Contact the Martinsville 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. Martinsville 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 Martinsville Commissioner of the Revenue or visit martinsville-va.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 Martinsville is 5.3%: the 4.3% Virginia state rate plus the 1.0% standard local rate. Martinsville does not levy an additional local sales tax. Per the current Virginia Tax sales tax rate table, Martinsville is in the 5.3% statewide-base group. This is a common point of confusion: the surrounding Henry County levies an additional 1.0% local sales tax for a 6.3% combined rate, but that higher rate does not apply inside Martinsville city limits. Martinsville City and Henry County are separate tax jurisdictions.

Martinsville Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate 4.3%
Standard local rate 1.0%
Combined rate 5.3%

Qualifying food and personal hygiene items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% statewide rate. The applicable sales tax rate depends on where the sale occurs, not your city of residence.

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: Martinsville rates should be confirmed directly with the city before use.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your Martinsville annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in Martinsville at the 5.3% combined rate.

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Other Virginia Jurisdictions

Martinsville sits in Southside Virginia, surrounded by Henry County and near several live county pages. Compare nearby jurisdictions:

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

Official Sources

  • City of Martinsville - Commissioner of the Revenue
    Official source for Martinsville real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
    martinsville-va.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 Martinsville in Table 2 (City Levies).
    tax.virginia.gov/local-tax-rates
  • Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax
    Official source for Virginia sales tax rates by region, confirming Martinsville's 5.3% 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.
    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 Martinsville before making financial decisions. Data last verified: May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Martinsville property tax rate?

Martinsville's real estate tax rate was $0.990 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by Martinsville City Council, and the proposed FY2026-27 budget includes a recommended increase. Verify the current adopted rate at martinsville-va.gov.

What is the Martinsville vehicle personal property tax rate?

Martinsville's general tangible personal property rate was $2.300 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. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Contact the Martinsville Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Martinsville, VA?

The combined sales tax rate in the City of Martinsville is 5.3% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% standard local). Unlike surrounding Henry County (6.3%), Martinsville does not levy an additional local sales tax, so it sits in the 5.3% statewide-base group per the current Virginia Tax rate table.

Is Martinsville an independent city or part of Henry County?

Martinsville is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. It became an independent city in 1928 and is geographically surrounded by, but legally and administratively separate from, Henry County. Each jurisdiction sets its own tax rates.

How does Martinsville compare to Henry County for taxes?

Per the Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey, Martinsville's real estate rate is $0.990/$100 versus $0.555/$100 in surrounding Henry County, so the city's property tax rate is higher. On sales tax, the reverse is true: Martinsville is 5.3% while Henry County is 6.3%. They are separate tax jurisdictions: a Martinsville City resident pays Martinsville rates, and a Henry County resident pays county rates, even though the city sits inside the county's footprint. See Henry County tax rates for the full comparison.