Stafford County Tax Rates

Stafford County's real estate tax rate was $0.924 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $5.72 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 5.3% - Stafford County is not within any of Virginia's elevated-rate regional transportation districts. Verify current adopted rates with Stafford County before making financial decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $0.924 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with Stafford County.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $5.72 per $100 (general 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 Stafford County 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 county and changes each year. Contact the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • Sales tax: 5.3% - Stafford County is not within the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Central Virginia regional transportation districts. The standard Virginia rate applies.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with Stafford County. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Stafford County Tax Rates - At a Glance

Stafford County Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $0.924 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; verify current adopted rate with Stafford County
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $5.72 per $100 General personal property rate TY2025 per DOT survey; personal use vehicle rate may differ; PPTRA relief on first $20,000; verify current rate
Sales Tax 5.3% General Virginia rate; not in a regional transportation district; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Stafford County's real estate tax rate was $0.924 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. Stafford County is a fast-growing county in the I-95 corridor between the Washington, D.C. metro area and Fredericksburg. The rate is set annually by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

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

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Stafford 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 Stafford 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

Stafford County's general personal property tax rate was $5.72 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 Stafford County may differ from the $5.72 general rate. Contact the Stafford County 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. Stafford 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.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue or visit staffordcountyva.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 Stafford County is 5.3%. Stafford 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.

Stafford County Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
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. Note that nearby Northern Virginia jurisdictions (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Alexandria) have a 6.0% sales tax rate. If you shop across county lines, the applicable rate depends on where the sale occurs, not your county 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: Stafford County rates should be confirmed directly with the county before use.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your Stafford County annual real estate tax based on assessed value.

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate sales tax on purchases in Stafford County at the 5.3% General Virginia rate.

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Neighboring Virginia Jurisdictions

Stafford County is located in the I-95 corridor and borders the following Virginia jurisdictions.

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

Official Sources

  • Stafford County - Official Website
    Official source for Stafford County real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
    staffordcountyva.gov
  • Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025
    Official statewide survey of real estate and personal property tax rates for all Virginia localities.
    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 Stafford County before making financial decisions. Data last verified: April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Stafford County property tax rate?

Stafford County's real estate tax rate was $0.924 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. Verify the current adopted rate at staffordcountyva.gov.

What is the Stafford County vehicle personal property tax rate?

Stafford County's general personal property rate was $5.72 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 Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Stafford County?

The combined sales tax rate in Stafford County is 5.3% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% local). Stafford County is not within the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Central Virginia regional transportation districts, so no additional 0.7% regional levy applies. Note that nearby Northern Virginia counties have a 6.0% sales tax rate; the rate that applies to any purchase depends on where the sale occurs.

Why is Stafford County's sales tax 5.3% when neighboring Prince William County charges 6.0%?

Prince William County is within the Northern Virginia regional transportation tax district, which adds a 0.7% levy on top of the base 5.3% state+local rate. Stafford County is not included in this district. The boundary follows Prince William County's border - a purchase made in Stafford is taxed at 5.3%, while the same purchase in Prince William is 6.0%. This is set by the Virginia General Assembly, not by either county.

Is Stafford County's vehicle tax rate one of the highest in the region?

Yes. Stafford's general personal property rate of $5.72/$100 is among the highest in the Fredericksburg-Northern Virginia corridor. For comparison: Prince William County charges $3.50/$100, Fairfax County $4.57/$100, and Spotsylvania County $5.37/$100. However, the rate alone does not determine your annual bill - the PPTRA relief percentage (which reduces the tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value) varies by jurisdiction and can offset the higher rate. Contact Stafford County to confirm the current PPTRA percentage.