Virginia Sales Tax Calculator
Virginia sales tax applies to most retail sales of tangible goods and some services. This calculator shows the combined state and local sales tax rate for any location in Virginia and lets you work out the tax on a given purchase price or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total. Select your county or city to load the exact local rate on top of the Virginia statewide base rate, then enter any purchase amount to see the tax and total immediately. Rates and jurisdictions are sourced from Virginia Department of Taxation and reflect current Virginia law. Sales tax in Virginia applies at the point of sale for most tangible personal property; groceries, prescription drugs, and other categories may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate depending on state law. Use the calculator to compare totals across different jurisdictions, or to verify a receipt. The combined rate shown is the rate applicable at a specific location and accounts for any special district taxes layered on top of the county or municipal rate.
Virginia's state sales tax base rate is 5.3%. In Fairfax County the combined rate is 6%, so $100 of goods has $6.00 in sales tax, for a total of $106.00. Pick your county below for the exact combined rate.
How sales tax works in Virginia
Virginia charges a statewide base sales tax of 5.3%. The general rate is 5.3% (4.3% state plus 1.0% local), with regional add-ons of 0.7% or more lifting the combined rate to 6%, 6.3% or 7% in some areas. Choose your county above to load its sourced combined rate, or switch to Remove tax to work back from a tax-inclusive total. Your result updates the page link, so you can copy a permalink to any calculation.
sales tax = pre-tax price x (state rate + local rate) / 100
total = pre-tax price + sales tax
Worked example
A $250.00 purchase in Fairfax County, at the 6% combined rate (5.3% state + 0.7% local):
- Combined rate = 5.3% + 0.7% = 6%.
- Sales tax = 250 x 0.0600 = $15.00.
- Total = 250 + 15.00 = $265.00.
What is taxed in Virginia
| Groceries | Reduced / partial |
|---|---|
| Prescription drugs | Exempt |
| Clothing | Taxable |
Food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products are taxed at a reduced rate of 1% throughout Virginia.
Source: Virginia Department of Taxation.
Virginia sales tax holidays
- Virginia Sales Tax Holiday (August 7 to 9, 2026 (first weekend of August: Friday 12:01 am to Sunday 11:59 pm)): School supplies ($20 or less per item), clothing and footwear ($100 or less per item), hurricane and emergency preparedness products (generators $1,000 or less, other listed items $60 to $350 or less), and ENERGY STAR and WaterSense products for home or personal use ($2,500 or less per item) (source)
Virginia sales tax rates by county
Combined rates (5.3% state plus local), sourced from the Virginia Department of Taxation and verified Jun 11, 2026. For an exact rate by address use the official Virginia Department of Taxation rate lookup; local rates can vary within a county and change over time.
Full official dataset: Virginia Department of Taxation rate file.
Virginia sales tax: frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in Virginia?
Virginia's statewide base rate is 5.3%. The general combined rate is 5.3%, rising to 6% in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, 6.3% in eight additional localities, and 7% in the Historic Triangle (James City County, York County and Williamsburg).
How much is sales tax on $100 in Fairfax County?
At Fairfax County's combined rate of 6%, sales tax on $100 is $6.00, for a total of $106.00. Enter your own amount above for an exact figure.
Are groceries taxed in Virginia?
Food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products are taxed at a reduced rate of 1% throughout Virginia.
Does Virginia have a sales tax holiday?
Yes. Virginia runs 1 sales tax holiday: Virginia Sales Tax Holiday (August 7 to 9, 2026 (first weekend of August: Friday 12:01 am to Sunday 11:59 pm)).
How do I remove sales tax from a total in Virginia?
Switch the calculator to Remove tax and enter the tax-inclusive total. It divides by 1 plus the combined rate to find the pre-tax price, then shows the tax.
What is the sales tax rate in Virginia?
The general combined sales and use tax rate in Virginia is 5.3%, made up of a 4.3% state rate and a 1.0% local rate. Some regions add a further regional tax: Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Central Virginia are at 6%, eight additional localities are at 6.3%, and the Historic Triangle (James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg) is at 7%.
Why is sales tax higher in places like Fairfax, Virginia Beach and Richmond?
These localities sit in regions where the General Assembly authorised an additional regional sales tax to fund transportation and other regional needs. The 0.7% Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Central Virginia regional taxes raise the combined rate from 5.3% to 6% in those areas.
How are groceries taxed in Virginia?
Food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products (including diapers and feminine hygiene products) are taxed at a reduced rate of 1% everywhere in Virginia, rather than the full general rate. Hot prepared foods, alcoholic beverages and tobacco do not qualify for the reduced rate.
Does Virginia tax clothing and prescription drugs?
Clothing is taxable at the normal combined rate in Virginia, except during the annual August sales tax holiday when qualifying clothing and footwear priced $100 or less per item is exempt. Prescription medicines and certain non-prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax.
When is the Virginia sales tax holiday in 2026?
The Virginia Sales Tax Holiday runs the first weekend of August, from Friday August 7 through Sunday August 9, 2026. It covers qualifying school supplies ($20 or less per item), clothing and footwear ($100 or less per item), hurricane and emergency preparedness products, and ENERGY STAR and WaterSense products ($2,500 or less per item).
Official sources
- State base rate (5.3%): Virginia Department of Taxation, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Local combined rates: Virginia Department of Taxation, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Address-level lookup: Virginia Department of Taxation rate lookup.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice.