Virginia sales tax at a glance
| State base rate | 5.3% |
| Average combined rate | ~5.77% (state + county + city + districts) |
| National rank | 42 of 51 by average combined rate (all-state average 6.61%) |
| Groceries | Reduced rate |
| Major cities | Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Newport News |
Worked examples — what you actually pay in Virginia
Using the average combined rate of 5.77% (your exact city rate may be higher or lower):
| Purchase | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.44 | $26.44 |
| $100 | $5.77 | $105.77 |
| $500 | $28.85 | $528.85 |
| $1,000 | $57.70 | $1057.70 |
| $10,000 | $577.00 | $10577.00 |
Sales tax rates
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Virginia compares with other states
The states closest to Virginia on average combined rate, plus the national extremes — all rates are average combined (state + local):
| State | Average combined rate | Tax on $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia (this page) | 5.77% | $57.70 |
| Kentucky | 6% | $60.00 |
| Maryland | 6% | $60.00 |
| Michigan | 6% | $60.00 |
| Wisconsin | 5.7% | $57.00 |
| Louisiana — highest in the US | 9.56% | $95.60 |
| Oregon — lowest in the US | 0% | $0.00 |
What this means in Virginia
Virginia's average combined rate of 5.77% sits close to the all-state average of 6.61% (rank 42 of 51). Sales tax here is neither a reason to cross a border nor a penalty for staying — on a $10,000 purchase the tax is about $577, within $84 of what the average state would charge. Local variation inside Virginia matters more than the state figure: city and district layers move the rate more than the state ranking does.
Groceries are taxed at a reduced rate in Virginia, so the food shop carries some tax but less than the full 5.77% combined rate applied to other goods. The reduced rate and any local add-ons are set out in the groceries note above; the exact figure varies by locality, so check it before treating a food budget as tax-free.
How to calculate Virginia sales tax (3 steps)
- Find your combined rate. Start with the 5.3% state rate, then add your county, city and any special-district rates for the exact purchase location.
- Multiply. Tax = taxable price × (combined rate ÷ 100). Shipping and discounts change the taxable base in some cases — discounts usually reduce it, delivery charges vary.
- Add (or extract). Total = price + tax. Working backwards from a tax-inclusive price: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100). Our calculator does both directions instantly.
Groceries and exemptions in Virginia
Virginia cut its state grocery tax in 2023; a 1% local grocery tax remains in most areas. Prescription medicines are exempt in almost every state; clothing, services and digital goods follow state-specific rules, so check the Virginia Department of Revenue for category detail before assuming an item is tax-free.
Selling into Virginia? Read this
If you sell online and ship to Virginia, economic nexus rules generally require you to collect tax once your Virginia sales pass the state's threshold (commonly $100,000). You collect at the rate for the buyer's delivery address — which is why combined-rate accuracy matters more than the state base rate. The full calculator lets you test any rate, extract tax from totals, and model VAT for international sales.