Waynesboro, Virginia Tax Rates

Waynesboro's real estate tax rate was $0.820 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The general personal property tax rate was $3.25 per $100 (personal use vehicle rate may differ). The combined sales tax rate is 5.3% - Waynesboro is not within any of Virginia's elevated-rate regional transportation districts. Verify current adopted rates with the City of Waynesboro before making financial decisions.

Key Takeaways

  • Real estate tax rate: $0.820 per $100 of assessed value (tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey). Verify the current adopted rate with the City of Waynesboro.
  • Vehicle personal property tax rate: $3.25 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 Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro Commissioner of the Revenue for the current-year rate.
  • Sales tax: 5.3% - Waynesboro is not within the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Central Virginia regional transportation districts. The standard Virginia rate applies.
  • Machinery and Tools tax: $3.250 per $100 (TY2025 per DOT) - applies to business tangible personal property. Note: the M&T rate matches the general TPP rate in Waynesboro.
  • Waynesboro is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley, geographically surrounded by Augusta County and adjacent to the City of Staunton. All three are legally separate jurisdictions.
  • Property and vehicle tax due dates: verify current dates with the City of Waynesboro. Due dates vary by locality in Virginia.

Waynesboro Tax Rates - At a Glance

Waynesboro Current Tax Rates Summary
Tax Type Rate Notes
Real Estate Tax $0.820 per $100 Tax year 2025 per Virginia DOT survey; verify current adopted rate with the City of Waynesboro
Vehicle Personal Property Tax $3.25 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
Machinery and Tools $3.250 per $100 TY2025 per DOT survey (business tangible personal property)
Sales Tax 5.3% General Virginia rate; not in a regional transportation district; qualifying groceries 1.0%

Real Estate Tax

Rate and Assessment

Waynesboro's real estate tax rate was $0.820 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, as reported in the Virginia Department of Taxation Local Tax Rates Survey. Waynesboro is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia, located at the eastern edge of Augusta County near the Blue Ridge Mountains. The rate is set annually by Waynesboro City Council.

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

Service Districts

Waynesboro has no city service-district levies in the Virginia DOT Table 5 for tax year 2025. The base $0.820/$100 rate applies citywide.

Independent City Status

Waynesboro is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. Although Waynesboro is geographically surrounded by Augusta County, the two are legally and administratively separate. The neighboring City of Staunton is also an independent city. If you live in Waynesboro, your local property and vehicle taxes are set by Waynesboro city government, not by Augusta County or Staunton. Each of the three jurisdictions in this corner of the Shenandoah Valley sets its own rates.

Exemptions and Relief Programs

Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro 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

Waynesboro's general personal property tax rate was $3.25 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 Waynesboro may differ from the $3.25 general rate. Contact the Waynesboro 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. Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro Commissioner of the Revenue or visit waynesboro.va.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 Waynesboro is 5.3%. Waynesboro 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.

Waynesboro Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
Component Rate
Virginia state rate4.3%
Local rate1.0%
Combined rate5.3%

Qualifying food and grocery items are subject to Virginia's reduced 1.0% state rate. Note that some Virginia jurisdictions (Northern Virginia counties, Hampton Roads cities, Central Virginia counties) charge a 6.0% sales tax. If you shop across jurisdictional lines, the applicable 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)

Official Sources

  • City of Waynesboro - Official Website
    Official source for Waynesboro real estate tax rates, vehicle personal property tax rates, PPTRA relief percentages, and payment schedules.
    waynesboro.va.us
  • 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 Waynesboro 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.
    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 Waynesboro before making financial decisions. Data last verified: May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Waynesboro property tax rate?

Waynesboro's real estate tax rate was $0.820 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025 per the Virginia DOT Local Tax Rates Survey. The rate is set annually by Waynesboro City Council. Verify the current adopted rate at waynesboro.va.us.

What is the Waynesboro vehicle personal property tax rate?

Waynesboro's general personal property rate was $3.25 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 Waynesboro Commissioner of the Revenue to confirm the current vehicle rate and PPTRA percentage.

What is the sales tax rate in Waynesboro, VA?

The combined sales tax rate in Waynesboro is 5.3% (4.3% Virginia state + 1.0% local). Waynesboro is not within the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, or Central Virginia regional transportation districts, so no additional 0.7% regional levy applies.

Is Waynesboro an independent city or part of Augusta County?

Waynesboro is an independent city - a county-equivalent jurisdiction in Virginia. Although Waynesboro is geographically surrounded by Augusta County, the two are legally and administratively separate. The neighboring City of Staunton is also an independent city. Each Shenandoah Valley jurisdiction sets its own tax rates.

How does Waynesboro compare to Staunton for property and vehicle taxes?

Per the Virginia DOT TY2025 Local Tax Rates Survey: Waynesboro real estate $0.820/$100 vs Staunton $0.910/$100 citywide ($1.060 inside the Staunton Downtown Service District). General personal property: Waynesboro $3.25 vs Staunton $2.90 (per $100). Machinery and Tools: Waynesboro $3.25 vs Staunton $1.240. Both jurisdictions are at the 5.3% general Virginia sales tax rate. Both are independent cities surrounded by Augusta County and set their own rates independently.