Central Va. sales, use tax rate to increase Oct. 1

Rate will rise from 5.3% to 6%

Published September 22, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Starting Oct. 1, the sales and use tax rate in Central Virginia will go up by 0.7% to a total of 6%, Virginia Tax announced Tuesday.

The change approved by the 2020 Virginia General Assembly affects the 4.3% state tax, the 0.7% regional state tax and the 1% local option tax. Affected localities include Richmond and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover (including the town of Ashland), Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan.

The adjusted sales and use tax rate does not apply to groceries and essential personal hygiene products, which are taxed at a reduced rate.

For most locations in Virginia, the sales tax rate is 5.3%, but in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia it’s 6%, in Halifax County it’s 6.3% and in the Historic Triangle region (Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown) it’s 7%.