Every parcel of real property in Virginia is assigned a unique identification number by the local government — whether a county or one of Virginia’s 38 independent cities. This number — called a parcel ID, parcel number, map reference number, or account number — is the key to your property’s complete public record: assessed value, tax history, ownership transfers, and relief program status. Virginia’s property tax system is unusually local: rates, exemptions, and even the name of the taxing office vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This guide shows you how to find your Virginia property tax ID and use it to understand and manage your tax bill.
What Is a Virginia Property Tax ID Number?
A Virginia property tax ID is assigned by the local Commissioner of the Revenue or, in some localities, the Real Estate Assessor’s office. Virginia splits assessment and collection between two constitutional officers: the Commissioner of the Revenue (who assesses values) and the Treasurer (who collects taxes). The parcel ID appears on every document tied to the property: tax bills, deeds, recorded plats, and closing disclosures.
Virginia is also unique in having 38 independent cities that are legally separate from any county — each administers its own property tax system. Knowing whether your property is in a county or an independent city matters, because they have different offices, websites, and tax rates.
The parcel number may also be called:
- Parcel ID or parcel number
- Map reference number or map/parcel
- Tax account number or GPIN (Geographic Parcel Identification Number)
- Real estate account number
- Land book number
How to Find Your Virginia Property Tax ID
All four methods below are free.
1. Check Your Property Tax Bill
Virginia localities mail real estate tax bills one or two times per year (depending on the jurisdiction). Your parcel ID is printed on the bill, labeled “Parcel ID,” “Map Number,” “Account Number,” or similar. This is the most authoritative source for the exact format your locality uses.
2. Search Your Locality’s Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor Website
Every Virginia county and independent city provides a free online property search. Enter your street address or owner name to retrieve your parcel ID, assessed value, tax history, and ownership information. Larger jurisdictions like Fairfax County, Virginia Beach, and Richmond have sophisticated GIS portals; smaller jurisdictions often use platforms like qPublic, Vision Government Solutions, or county-built systems.
3. Use the Virginia GIS Network
The Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) maintains a statewide parcel viewer that aggregates parcel data from many localities. You can search by address or click on a map to retrieve a parcel ID and link to the local assessor’s records.
4. Check Your Deed or Closing Documents
Your recorded deed and closing disclosure both reference the parcel ID. In Virginia, deeds are recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk’s office (not a county recorder as in most states). Your title commitment and HUD-1 or Closing Disclosure also list the parcel ID.
How to Read a Virginia Parcel Number
Virginia parcel formats vary significantly by locality. Each county and city designs its own numbering system. Common approaches include map-grid-based formats and sequential account numbers:
Tax Map – Section – Block – Parcel
Example (Fairfax County): 0561 07 0012
Example (Virginia Beach): 1487-12-0329
| Segment | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0561 | Tax map sheet number | Map sheet 561 |
| 07 | Section or block within the map | Section 7 |
| 0012 | Parcel identifier within the section | Parcel 12 |
Arlington County uses a short format like 01-001-001; Richmond City uses a longer account number. Always use the format shown on your locality’s website — formats are not interchangeable across jurisdictions.
Virginia Property Tax Rates by Locality
Virginia real property is assessed at 100% of fair market value — there is no fractional assessment ratio as in Alabama or Ohio. Tax rates are set by each locality independently, expressed as dollars per $100 of assessed value. The state of Virginia does not levy a real property tax.
Property tax rates vary enormously across Virginia’s 133 jurisdictions:
| Locality | Rate (per $100 assessed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | $1.013 | Northern Virginia; high values, moderate rate |
| Fairfax County | $1.135 | Largest county in VA; high home values |
| Alexandria City | $1.110 | Independent city; urban rates |
| Richmond City | $1.200 | State capital independent city |
| Virginia Beach City | $0.990 | Largest city by population; coastal market |
| Chesapeake City | $1.040 | Hampton Roads; growing suburb |
| Loudoun County | $0.875 | Fast-growing; among lowest in NoVA |
| Prince William County | $1.115 | Outer NoVA suburb |
| Chesterfield County | $0.930 | Richmond suburb; competitive rate |
| Rockingham County | $0.510 | Shenandoah Valley; among lowest in state |
Northern Virginia jurisdictions tend to have the highest rates but also the highest home values. The Shenandoah Valley and Southwest Virginia have the lowest rates. Independent cities generally set higher rates than surrounding counties.
How Virginia Property Taxes Are Calculated
The calculation is straightforward — Virginia assesses at full market value with no ratio adjustment.
Step 1: Determine Assessed Value
The local Commissioner of the Revenue or assessor estimates the property’s fair market value as of January 1 each year. Virginia law requires localities to assess at 100% of fair market value. Reassessment schedules vary: cities generally reassess annually, while counties may reassess every 2, 4, or 6 years depending on population and local ordinance.
Step 2: Subtract Exemptions or Land Use Deductions
If you qualify for a local relief program — elderly/disabled tax relief, land use taxation, or disabled veteran exemption — the eligible amount is subtracted from the assessed value before the tax rate is applied.
Step 3: Apply the Tax Rate
Multiply the net taxable value by the locality’s real estate tax rate per $100.
Example: $500,000 assessed value × $1.135 (Fairfax County rate) ÷ 100 = $5,675 annual tax
Virginia Property Tax Relief Programs
Virginia does not have a traditional statewide homestead exemption. Instead, the state mandates that localities offer certain relief programs and sets minimum standards — but each locality determines the actual benefit amounts, income limits, and application process.
Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief
Virginia law (§ 58.1-3210) requires every locality to offer a tax relief program for homeowners who are age 65 or older or totally and permanently disabled, subject to income and net worth limits set by the locality. The relief can take the form of:
- A full exemption from real estate taxes
- A partial exemption (percentage reduction)
- A tax deferral (taxes deferred until the property is sold)
- Any combination of the above
Benefits and income/net worth caps vary significantly by jurisdiction. Fairfax County, for example, offers relief on a sliding scale up to full exemption; rural counties may offer smaller reductions. Contact your locality’s Commissioner of the Revenue to see what’s available and apply before the deadline (usually March 1 or April 1).
Disabled Veteran Exemption
Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating — or rated individually unemployable — are exempt from all real estate taxes on their primary residence under Virginia Code § 58.1-3219.5. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may continue the exemption. No income limit applies. Apply at your local Commissioner of the Revenue with VA disability documentation.
Land Use Taxation
Virginia’s Land Use Taxation Program (§ 58.1-3230) allows land actively used for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or open space to be taxed based on its use value rather than fair market value. Use value for farmland is typically far below market value in growing areas, resulting in substantial savings for qualifying landowners. A rollback tax (up to 5 years of deferred taxes) applies if the land is converted to another use.
Surviving Spouse of First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty
Surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders killed in the line of duty qualify for a full real estate tax exemption on their primary residence for as long as they own it and do not remarry.
How to Appeal Your Virginia Property Tax Assessment
If you believe your property’s assessed value is too high, Virginia gives you the right to appeal. Act within the filing windows — they are strict.
Appeal to the Commissioner of the Revenue
File a written appeal directly with your local Commissioner of the Revenue (or assessor, for localities that use a separate assessor). Present comparable sales data, a recent independent appraisal, or documentation of property defects. This informal review is the fastest path to a reduction.
Board of Equalization
Every Virginia locality has a Board of Equalization that meets annually to hear formal assessment appeals. File your appeal with the Board by the deadline specified on your assessment notice — typically within 3 months of the assessment date, or by a locally set deadline. The Board hears evidence and issues a written decision. Many appeals are resolved at this level.
Circuit Court
If you disagree with the Board of Equalization’s decision, you may appeal to the local Circuit Court within 3 months of the Board’s decision. This step involves formal legal proceedings and is used for high-value properties or significant valuation disputes.
When Are Virginia Property Taxes Due?
Virginia localities set their own tax due dates. Most jurisdictions use a two-installment schedule, but dates vary:
| Schedule | Common Due Dates | Localities |
|---|---|---|
| Two installments | June 5 and December 5 | Most counties and cities (default) |
| Two installments | June 15 and November 15 | Some cities (e.g., Richmond) |
| Single annual payment | December 5 | Some rural counties |
| Quarterly | Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct | A few larger jurisdictions |
Always verify the due dates with your specific locality — missing a payment date triggers interest and penalties that accrue quickly.
Payment Options
- Online through your locality’s treasurer or finance department website
- In person at the county or city treasurer’s office
- By mail (postmark by the due date)
- Drop box at the courthouse or government center
Virginia Property Tax ID vs. Other Identifiers
| Identifier | Assigned By | What It Identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel ID / Map Number | Local Commissioner of Revenue | The parcel in the local tax map system |
| Deed Book / Page | Circuit Court Clerk | The recorded deed document |
| Plat Book / Page | Circuit Court Clerk | The recorded subdivision plat |
| Lot / Block / Subdivision | Recorded plat | Subdivision legal description |
| FIPS Code | U.S. Census Bureau | VA county or city in federal datasets (51XXX) |
Search Virginia Property Records by Locality
Direct links to Commissioner of the Revenue portals for major Virginia jurisdictions:
- Fairfax County — fairfaxcounty.gov/dta
- Virginia Beach City — cor.virginiabeach.gov
- Arlington County — arlingtonva.us/COR
- Loudoun County — loudoun.gov/revenue
- Prince William County — pwcva.gov/finance
- Chesterfield County — chesterfield.gov/revenue
- Henrico County — henrico.us/finance
- Richmond City — rva.gov/finance
- Chesapeake City — cityofchesapeake.net/revenue
- Stafford County — staffordcountyva.gov/revenue
For all 133 Virginia localities, the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia (CRAV) maintains a complete directory organized by region.
Bottom Line
Virginia’s property tax system is more decentralized than any other state covered in this series — each of the 133 counties and independent cities sets its own rate, manages its own assessments, and designs its own relief programs. Your first priority after moving in is to verify your locality’s elderly/disabled relief program if you qualify, and to check whether your land qualifies for use-value taxation if you own acreage. Use your parcel ID to pull up your jurisdiction’s online records, confirm your assessed value, and verify any exemptions are applied. If your assessment seems high after a recent reassessment, the Board of Equalization is your most accessible and often most effective remedy — bring comparable sales and file before the deadline.
