Pittsylvania County, Virginia Tax Rates
Pittsylvania County's real estate tax rate was $0.560 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $9.000 per $100 - one of the highest published general TPP rates in Virginia. The personal use vehicle rate likely differs because Pittsylvania may classify vehicles as a separate property class under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3506. Three incorporated towns - Chatham (the county seat), Gretna, and Hurt - sit inside the county; all three levy a town tax for TY2025. The combined sales tax rate is 5.3%. Important disambiguation: Pittsylvania County is distinct from the City of Danville (a separate Virginia independent city geographically inside Pittsylvania's footprint). Verify current adopted rates - and especially the personal use vehicle rate - with Pittsylvania County before making financial decisions.
Rates verified May 2026. See our methodology for sourcing and update cadence.
Key Takeaways
- County real estate tax rate: $0.560 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey).
- Three incorporated towns are inside Pittsylvania County per DOT Table 3, and all three levy a non-zero town tax for TY2025: Town of Chatham (county seat - RE +$0.190, TPP +$4.500, M&T +$2.250, MC +$2.250), Town of Gretna (RE +$0.160, TPP +$2.250, M&T +$2.250, MC $0.000), and Town of Hurt (RE +$0.135, TPP +$3.750, M&T $0.000, MC $0.000).
- No Pittsylvania County sanitary or special service districts appear in the Virginia DOT TY2025 Table 4. Properties outside Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt pay only the county rate.
- General personal property tax rate: $9.000 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT survey) - one of the highest published general TPP rates in Virginia. The Virginia DOT explicitly notes that vehicles may be classified as a separate class and taxed at a different rate. The personal use vehicle rate likely differs from $9.000 - confirm with the Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue before relying on this figure for a vehicle bill estimate.
- 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 county and changes each year. Contact the Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
- Sales tax: 5.3% - Pittsylvania County is not within any Virginia regional transportation district. The standard Virginia rate applies countywide.
- County Machinery and Tools tax: $4.500 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - applies to business tangible personal property used in manufacturing.
- County Merchants' Capital tax: $2.750 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - notable: Pittsylvania is one of a small number of Virginia counties that still levies a non-zero Merchants' Capital tax. Most localities report $0.000 because they switched to Business Tangible Personal Property tax decades ago.
- Pittsylvania is the largest county in Virginia by land area (approximately 969 square miles) - larger than the state of Rhode Island. Population approximately 62,000.
- Critical disambiguation: Pittsylvania County is not the same as the City of Danville. Danville is a separate Virginia independent city geographically inside Pittsylvania's footprint, with its own tax rates ($0.830 RE per $100 per DOT TY2025) and government. Danville residents do not pay any Pittsylvania County tax.
- Adjacent live county pages: Franklin County (live; northwest, also non-zero Merchants Capital), Henry County (live in same publish sequence; west, surrounds City of Martinsville), Patrick County (live in same publish sequence; west of Henry, Blue Ridge foothills), Halifax County (live in same publish sequence; east - includes former independent city South Boston), and Bedford County (live; north). Also borders unbuilt Campbell County (north).
- Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with Pittsylvania County. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.
Pittsylvania County Tax Rates - At a Glance
| Tax Type | County Rate (per $100) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | $0.560 | Plus town levy if inside Chatham, Gretna, or Hurt town limits (see overlay table below). |
| General Personal Property | $9.000 | One of the highest in VA. Personal use vehicle rate likely differs - confirm with the Commissioner of the Revenue before estimating any vehicle bill. |
| Machinery and Tools | $4.500 | Business tangible personal property classification used in manufacturing |
| Merchants' Capital | $2.750 | Non-zero rate - Pittsylvania is one of few VA counties that still levies this tax |
| Sales Tax | 5.3% (4.3% state + 1.0% local; not in a regional transportation district; qualifying groceries 1.0%) | |
All rates from Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (Tables 1 and 3). Verify current adopted rates with Pittsylvania County and the relevant town.
Real Estate Tax
Rate and Assessment
Pittsylvania County's real estate tax rate was $0.560 per $100 of assessed value countywide for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey Table 1 (County Levies). The rate is set annually by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. Pittsylvania County uses fair-market-value assessment under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3201.
Properties inside the Town of Chatham (county seat), the Town of Gretna, or the Town of Hurt are subject to an additional town real estate levy on top of the county rate (Virginia DOT TY2025 Table 3 - Town Tax Rates). Properties outside any incorporated town pay only the $0.560 county rate. Pittsylvania County does not appear in DOT Table 4 (County District Levies), so there are no countywide sanitary, transportation, or special-service district levies.
Verification note: Rates are from the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey (tax year 2025). Verify the current adopted county rate at pittsylvaniacountyva.gov or by contacting the Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue.
Incorporated Town Overlays
Three incorporated towns are inside Pittsylvania County per the Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey Table 3 (Town Tax Rates). All three levy a non-zero real estate tax in TY2025. Chatham (the county seat) and Gretna both carry the largest TPP and M&T town overlays in the county.
| Town | Real Estate | Tangible Personal Property | Machinery & Tools | Merchants' Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham (county seat) | $0.190 | $4.500 | $2.250 | $2.250 |
| Gretna | $0.160 | $2.250 | $2.250 | $0.000 |
| Hurt | $0.135 | $3.750 | $0.000 | $0.000 |
Total inside Chatham town limits equals the county rate ($0.560 RE / $9.000 TPP / $4.500 M&T / $2.750 MC) plus the Chatham town rate above. The combined real estate rate inside Chatham reaches $0.750/$100. Inside Gretna and Hurt the combined real estate rates are $0.720 and $0.695 respectively. Verify current town rates with each town government before making financial decisions.
Exemptions and Relief Programs
Pittsylvania County 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 Pittsylvania County 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
Pittsylvania County's general personal property tax rate was $9.000 per $100 of assessed value countywide for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey Table 1. This is one of the highest published general TPP rates in Virginia.
Critical note on the $9.000 rate: 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." Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3506, Pittsylvania may classify personal use vehicles as a separate property class with its own rate. The current personal use vehicle rate in Pittsylvania County likely differs from $9.000. Publishing $9.000 as the personal use vehicle rate would mislead users. Contact the Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the rate that applies to your vehicle before estimating any bill.
Properties inside the Town of Chatham, the Town of Gretna, or the Town of Hurt are subject to an additional town personal property levy on top of the county rate (see town overlay table above; Chatham adds +$4.500, Gretna adds +$2.250, Hurt adds +$3.750). Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3503, localities assess vehicles using a recognized pricing guide as of January 1 of the tax year.
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. Pittsylvania County calculates its annual PPTRA relief percentage based on its share of that grant and the total qualifying vehicle assessed value in the county. 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 Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue or visit pittsylvaniacountyva.gov to confirm the current-year personal use vehicle 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 Pittsylvania County is 5.3%. Pittsylvania County is not within the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Central Virginia regional transportation districts, so no 0.7% regional levy applies. The standard Virginia statewide rate applies countywide. Towns do not add their own sales tax in Virginia.
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Virginia state rate | 4.3% |
| Local rate | 1.0% |
| Combined rate | 5.3% |
Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% state rate. Adjacent live county pages at the same 5.3% rate: Franklin County (also at 5.3%; northwest, also a non-zero Merchants Capital county) and Henry County (also at 5.3%; west, surrounds the City of Martinsville). Also borders Bedford County (also at 5.3%; north).
Source: Virginia Department of Taxation - Retail Sales and Use Tax (tax.virginia.gov)
Pittsylvania County vs City of Danville Disambiguation
Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville are different jurisdictions. Danville is a Virginia independent city under Virginia Constitution Article VII, located geographically inside Pittsylvania County's footprint but legally and administratively separate. A Danville resident pays Danville City tax rates and does not pay any Pittsylvania County tax. Likewise, a Pittsylvania County resident pays only Pittsylvania County rates (plus any applicable town overlay if inside Chatham, Gretna, or Hurt town limits) and does not pay any Danville City tax.
The DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey confirms this distinction clearly: Table 1 (County Levies) lists Pittsylvania County with RE $0.560, TPP $9.000, M&T $4.500, MC $2.750; Table 2 (City Levies) lists Danville City separately with RE $0.830, TPP $3.450, M&T $1.500, MC $0.000. The two jurisdictions use entirely different rate schedules and serve different residents. Pittsylvania is one of seven Virginia counties that completely surrounds (or partially surrounds) an independent city without including it in the county's tax jurisdiction.
Geography and Context: The Dan River Valley
Pittsylvania County is the largest Virginia county by land area (approximately 969 square miles - larger than Augusta County's approximately 967 sq mi, and roughly the same physical size as the state of Rhode Island). The county sits in southern Virginia along the North Carolina border, in the Dan River Valley. Historically a tobacco and textile region, Pittsylvania today retains a strong agricultural and light manufacturing base alongside Danville City's traditional industries.
Adjacent jurisdictions: Franklin County (live; northwest, also non-zero Merchants Capital county), Henry County (live in same publish sequence; west, surrounds City of Martinsville), Bedford County (live; north), Patrick County (live in same publish sequence; west of Henry, Blue Ridge foothills), and Halifax County (live in same publish sequence; east - includes former independent city South Boston). Also borders unbuilt Campbell County (north). Pittsylvania also borders Caswell County, North Carolina, to the south.
Virginia Tax Tools
Virginia Car Tax Calculator
Estimate your annual vehicle personal property tax. Note: the Pittsylvania County personal use vehicle rate is not yet confirmed and likely differs from the $9.000 general TPP rate published by DOT. Use the calculator for general Virginia logic, but confirm the actual Pittsylvania vehicle rate with the county before relying on the estimate.
LiveVirginia Property Tax Calculator
Estimate your Pittsylvania County annual real estate tax based on assessed value. Add the Chatham, Gretna, or Hurt town overlay if inside town limits.
LiveVirginia Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate sales tax on purchases in Pittsylvania County at the 5.3% General Virginia rate.
LiveOther Virginia Jurisdictions
Pittsylvania County is in southern Virginia along the NC border. Compare adjacent live jurisdictions:
- Franklin County (adjacent northwest - also in Roanoke MSA southern edge; also a non-zero Merchants Capital county)
- Henry County (adjacent west - same publish sequence; surrounds the City of Martinsville)
- Bedford County (adjacent north - Smith Mountain Lake region)
- City of Lynchburg (independent city north of Bedford; Central Virginia / Lynchburg MSA)
For statewide context and a complete list of Virginia jurisdictions, see Virginia County Tax Rates.
Official Sources
-
Pittsylvania County - Official Website
Official source for Pittsylvania County real estate tax rates, personal property tax classifications, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
pittsylvaniacountyva.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 Pittsylvania County in Table 1 (County Levies) and the three Pittsylvania town overlays - Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt - in Table 3 (Town Tax Rates). Danville City is listed separately in Table 2 (Cities) as a distinct jurisdiction.
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 § 58.1-3506 - Other Classifications of Personal Property
Statutory authority allowing localities to classify vehicles separately from the general TPP rate.
law.lis.virginia.gov - § 58.1-3506 -
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
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 Pittsylvania County and the relevant town before making financial decisions. The personal use vehicle rate in particular requires direct confirmation with the Commissioner of the Revenue. Data last verified: May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pittsylvania County property tax rate?
Pittsylvania County's countywide real estate tax rate was $0.560 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. Properties inside Chatham (county seat) pay an additional $0.190 town levy. Properties inside Gretna pay an additional $0.160 town levy. Properties inside Hurt pay an additional $0.135 town levy. Verify the current adopted rate at pittsylvaniacountyva.gov.
Why is the Pittsylvania County personal property tax rate $9.000 per $100?
The Virginia DOT survey reports Pittsylvania's general TPP rate as $9.000 per $100 - one of the highest published general TPP rates in Virginia. The DOT survey explicitly notes that "certain items of property, including vehicles, may be considered separate classifications and may be taxed at a different tax rate." Under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3506, Pittsylvania may classify personal use vehicles as a separate property class with its own rate. The actual personal use vehicle rate likely differs from $9.000. Confirm the vehicle rate directly with the Pittsylvania County Commissioner of the Revenue before estimating any bill.
What is the sales tax rate in Pittsylvania County?
The combined sales tax rate in Pittsylvania County is 5.3% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% local). Pittsylvania County is not within any Virginia regional transportation district, so no additional 0.7% regional levy applies.
Is Pittsylvania County the same as Danville?
No. Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville are separate tax jurisdictions, even though Danville sits geographically inside Pittsylvania's footprint. Danville is a Virginia independent city under Virginia Constitution Article VII, with its own city government and its own tax rates. DOT TY2025 lists Pittsylvania County in Table 1 (RE $0.560) and Danville City in Table 2 (RE $0.830). Danville residents pay only Danville City tax; Pittsylvania residents pay only Pittsylvania County tax (plus any applicable town overlay).
What incorporated towns are in Pittsylvania County?
Three incorporated towns are inside Pittsylvania County per Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey Table 3: the Town of Chatham (county seat), the Town of Gretna, and the Town of Hurt. All three levy a non-zero town tax for TY2025. See the town overlay table above for full rates by tax type.
Why does Pittsylvania County levy a Merchants' Capital tax?
Pittsylvania County is one of a small number of Virginia counties that still levies a Merchants' Capital tax (TY2025 rate $2.750 per $100). Most localities switched to a Business Tangible Personal Property tax under Code of Virginia § 58.1-3508.1 (1985) and now report Merchants' Capital as $0.000. Pittsylvania retained Merchants' Capital and taxes it on merchant inventory and short-term rental property. Chatham and Gretna also carry additional Merchants' Capital town levies of +$2.250/$100 each.
Is Pittsylvania the largest county in Virginia?
Yes - Pittsylvania is the largest Virginia county by land area, covering approximately 969 square miles in southern Virginia along the North Carolina border. It is larger than Augusta County (next largest at approximately 967 sq mi) and roughly the same physical size as the state of Rhode Island. Population approximately 62,000 - mid-sized for Virginia counties. The combination of large land area and modest population makes Pittsylvania one of the more rural counties in the Commonwealth.