Newport News, VA Tax Rates

Newport News's real estate tax rate was $1.180 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The personal property tax rate is $4.500 per $100 for qualifying personal use vehicles (confirmed by the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue). PPTRA state relief on the first $20,000 of assessed value is 36.5% for tax year 2025 and 38.0% for tax year 2026 (also confirmed by the Commissioner). The combined sales tax rate is 6.0% under the Hampton Roads regional transportation district.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $1.180 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Newport News.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $4.500 per $100 for qualifying personal use vehicles. The Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue confirmed on April 23, 2026 that the same $4.500/$100 rate applies to both the general tangible personal property class and qualifying personal use vehicles (with PPTRA relief applied to eligible vehicles). No separate vehicle rate exists.
  • PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Newport News PPTRA relief percentage: 36.5% for tax year 2025 and 38.0% for tax year 2026 (both confirmed by the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue, April 23, 2026). The annual percentage is set by the city each year.
  • Sales tax: 6.0%, the Hampton Roads regional rate (4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% Hampton Roads transportation). Qualifying groceries: 1.0%.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with the City of Newport News. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Newport News Tax Rates - At a Glance

Newport News Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $1.180 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; assessed at 100% fair market value; verify current rate with City of Newport News
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $4.500 per $100 Tax year 2025 - confirmed by Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue (2026-04-23). Same rate applies to general TPP and qualifying personal use vehicles. PPTRA relief on first $20,000: TY2025 = 36.5%, TY2026 = 38.0% (both confirmed).
Sales Tax 6.0% Hampton Roads regional rate; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Newport News's real estate tax rate was $1.180 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. Newport News is an independent city in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, located on the Virginia Peninsula between the James River and York River. As an independent city, Newport News is a separate taxing jurisdiction and is not part of any surrounding county. The real estate tax rate is set annually by Newport News City Council.

Newport News assesses real property at 100% of fair market value. Property owners who disagree with their assessed value may appeal through the City of Newport News assessment appeals process.

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

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Newport News 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 Newport News 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

Newport News's personal property tax rate is $4.500 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025. The Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue confirmed on April 23, 2026 that the same $4.500/$100 rate applies to both the general tangible personal property class and qualifying personal use vehicles - there is no separate vehicle-specific rate. The Commissioner wrote: "Qualifying vehicles are subject to the same personal property tax rate of $4.50 per $100 of assessed value, with the applicable PPTRA relief applied to eligible vehicles." Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503, Virginia localities assess vehicles using a recognized pricing guide (typically J.D. Power Clean Trade-In value) as of January 1 of the tax year. Contact the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue for Newport News's specific assessment methodology and pricing guide.

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. Newport News calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage based on its share of that grant and the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the city. The percentage is recalculated each year.

The Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue confirmed the following PPTRA relief percentages by email on April 23, 2026:

  • Tax Year 2025: 36.5%
  • Tax Year 2026: 38.0%

Relief applies to the first $20,000 of assessed value for each qualifying personal use vehicle. Value above $20,000 is taxed at the full $4.500/$100 rate with no state relief offset.

Rate, vehicle class scope, and PPTRA percentages confirmed by the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue (FOIA COR, foiacor@nnva.gov) via email on April 23, 2026. Full reply preserved in the CountyTaxTools verification record. Annual reverification is required as PPTRA percentages are recalculated each year.

Sales Tax

Rate and Composition

The combined sales tax rate in Newport News is 6.0%. Newport News is within the Hampton Roads transportation district, which adds a 0.7% regional levy on top of the 5.3% statewide base rate. Newport News shares this 6.0% rate with Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Portsmouth, and other Hampton Roads localities.

Newport News Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate 4.3%
Local rate 1.0%
Hampton Roads 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. Virginia localities do not set their own sales tax rates; the 6.0% Newport News rate is authorized by the Virginia General Assembly through Hampton Roads transportation authority legislation.

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

Virginia Tax Tools

Virginia Car Tax Calculator

Estimate your annual Newport News vehicle personal property tax using the confirmed $4.500/$100 rate and TY2025 PPTRA relief of 36.5%.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your Newport News annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in City of Newport News at the 6.0% Hampton Roads rate.

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Neighboring Virginia Jurisdictions

Newport News is an independent city on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads region. It shares the peninsula with Hampton and borders the following jurisdictions.

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

Official Sources

  • Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue - Email Confirmation (April 23, 2026)
    Official email reply from the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue FOIA account (foiacor@nnva.gov) confirming the TY2025 PPTRA relief percentage (36.5%), the TY2026 PPTRA relief percentage (38.0%), and that the $4.500/$100 tax rate applies to both general tangible personal property and qualifying personal use vehicles with no separate vehicle rate.
    nnva.gov/539/Car-Tax-Relief (Newport News Car Tax Relief reference page)
  • City of Newport News - Official Website
    Official source for Newport News real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, assessment methods, and payment schedules.
    nnva.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 Hampton Roads transportation district 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

Real estate rate and sales tax rate sourced from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025) and the Virginia Department of Taxation. Vehicle rate and PPTRA relief percentages confirmed by direct email from the Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue (2026-04-23). Rates change annually - verify current figures with the City of Newport News before making financial decisions. Data last verified: April 24, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Newport News property tax rate?

Newport News's real estate tax rate was $1.180 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by Newport News City Council. Verify the current adopted rate at nnva.gov.

What is the Newport News vehicle personal property tax rate?

Newport News's personal property tax rate is $4.500 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025. The Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue confirmed on April 23, 2026 that the same $4.500/$100 rate applies to both general tangible personal property and qualifying personal use vehicles - there is no separate vehicle rate. PPTRA state relief is applied to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value: 36.5% for tax year 2025 and 38.0% for tax year 2026 (both confirmed by the Commissioner).

What is the sales tax rate in Newport News, VA?

The combined sales tax rate in Newport News is 6.0%: 4.3% Virginia state rate + 1.0% local rate + 0.7% Hampton Roads 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.

Is Newport News City its own taxing jurisdiction separate from surrounding counties?

Yes. Newport News is an independent city under Virginia law, which means it is a fully separate taxing jurisdiction and is not part of any surrounding county. Newport News sets its own real estate and personal property tax rates independently. This is a unique feature of Virginia's local government structure: independent cities are distinct from counties even when geographically surrounded or adjacent.

Is Newport News's property tax rate high compared to other Hampton Roads cities?

Yes. Newport News's real estate rate of $1.180/$100 is among the highest in the Hampton Roads region. For comparison: Virginia Beach is $0.970/$100, Chesapeake $1.010/$100, Hampton $1.240/$100, and Norfolk $1.230/$100 (all TY2025 per DOT survey). However, assessed values differ across jurisdictions, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower annual tax bill. All Hampton Roads cities share the same 6.0% sales tax rate.