Suffolk, VA Tax Rates

Suffolk's real estate tax rate was $1.070 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $4.250 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 6.0% under the Hampton Roads regional transportation district. Verify current adopted rates with the City of Suffolk before making financial decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $1.070 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Suffolk.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $4.250 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • 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 Suffolk. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.
  • Suffolk is the largest city by land area in Virginia, covering approximately 430 square miles, with both suburban and rural character.

Suffolk Tax Rates - At a Glance

Suffolk Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $1.070 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; assessed at 100% fair market value; verify current rate with City of Suffolk
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $4.250 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 6.0% Hampton Roads regional rate; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Suffolk's real estate tax rate was $1.070 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Transportation Local Tax Rates Survey. Suffolk is an independent city in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area and the largest city by land area in Virginia, covering approximately 430 square miles. As an independent city under Virginia law, Suffolk is a fully separate taxing jurisdiction from any surrounding county. The real estate tax rate is set annually by Suffolk City Council.

Suffolk assesses real property at 100% of fair market value. Property owners who disagree with their assessed value may appeal through the City of Suffolk assessment appeals process. Suffolk's real estate rate of $1.070/$100 is the lowest among the major Hampton Roads independent cities, below Portsmouth ($1.230/$100), Norfolk ($1.230/$100), Newport News ($1.180/$100), Hampton ($1.150/$100), Chesapeake ($1.010/$100), and Virginia Beach ($0.970/$100).

Special district levies note: The Virginia DOT survey also reports city district levies for Suffolk. The Suffolk Downtown Business District carries an additional real estate levy, and the Route 17 corridor has a separate district levy. These special district rates apply only to properties within each designated district - not to all properties citywide. Contact the Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue to determine whether a specific property is within a special district.

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

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Suffolk 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 Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue for current eligibility thresholds and application procedures.

Source: Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey TY2025 (pdfplumber extraction, direct from source). Data last verified: April 2026.

Vehicle Personal Property Tax

Rate and Assessment Method

Suffolk's general personal property tax rate was $4.250 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 (typically J.D. Power Clean Trade-In value) 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 Suffolk may differ from the $4.250 general rate. Contact the Suffolk 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. Suffolk 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.

PPTRA percentage pending official confirmation. Contact the Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue or visit suffolkva.us 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 Suffolk is 6.0%. Suffolk is within the Hampton Roads transportation district, which adds a 0.7% regional levy on top of the 5.3% statewide base rate. Suffolk shares this 6.0% rate with Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, and other Hampton Roads localities.

Suffolk 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% Suffolk 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 vehicle personal property tax. Note: Suffolk rates should be confirmed directly with the city before use.

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Virginia Property Tax Calculator

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

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Virginia Sales Tax Calculator

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

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Neighboring Virginia Jurisdictions

Suffolk is an independent city in Hampton Roads, Virginia. It is the largest city by land area in Virginia, bordered by Chesapeake to the east and sharing the Hampton Roads region with Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Newport News, and Hampton.

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

Official Sources

  • City of Suffolk - Official Website
    Official source for Suffolk real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, assessment methods, and payment schedules.
    suffolkva.us
  • 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

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 Suffolk before making financial decisions. Data last verified: April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Suffolk property tax rate?

Suffolk's real estate tax rate was $1.070 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by Suffolk City Council. Verify the current adopted rate at suffolkva.us.

What is the Suffolk vehicle personal property tax rate?

Suffolk's general personal property rate was $4.250 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 with a different rate. PPTRA state relief applies to qualifying personal use vehicles on the first $20,000 of assessed value. Contact the Suffolk Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Suffolk, VA?

The combined sales tax rate in Suffolk 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 Suffolk City its own taxing jurisdiction separate from surrounding counties?

Yes. Suffolk is an independent city under Virginia law, which means it is a fully separate taxing jurisdiction and is not part of any surrounding county. Suffolk was created in 1974 when the former City of Suffolk merged with Nansemond County. As an independent city, Suffolk sets its own real estate and personal property tax rates independently. This is a unique feature of Virginia's local government structure.

How does Suffolk's property tax rate compare to other Hampton Roads cities?

Based on tax year 2025 rates from the Virginia DOT survey, Suffolk's real estate rate of $1.070/$100 is the lowest among the major Hampton Roads independent cities. For comparison: Portsmouth ($1.230/$100), Norfolk ($1.230/$100), Newport News ($1.180/$100), Hampton ($1.150/$100), Chesapeake ($1.010/$100), and Virginia Beach ($0.970/$100). All figures are TY2025 general nominal rates from the DOT survey - verify current adopted rates with each city's Commissioner of the Revenue.