Richmond City · Virginia
Richmond sales tax rate (VA)
The Central Virginia regional add-on took effect in 2020 and applies across the Richmond region, not just inside the city.
Quick answer
The combined sales tax rate in Richmond, VA is 6% as of January 1, 2026 — 4.3% state + 1% county + 0.7% special district. On a $100 purchase that is $6 in tax, for a total of $106. Virginia's statewide base is 4.3%.
- Combined rate
- 6%
- State share
- 4.3%
- Local share
- 1.7%County + city + districts
- Tax on $100
- $6
Calculate Richmond sales tax
Pre-filled with the Richmond combined rate.
Sales tax calculator
The full combined rate of 6% applies to general merchandise.
Enter a pre-tax amount to see the tax due in Richmond, VA.
- Pre-tax
- $100
- Sales tax at 6%
- $6
- Total
- $106
Tax is rounded to the nearest cent on the full transaction, which is how most registers compute it. Line-item rounding can differ by a cent or two on long receipts.
Is 6% high?
Where Richmond sits against the state and the covered-metro median, in points and in dollars.
- vs covered median
- -1.95 ptsMedian 7.95%
- Local share
- 28%1.7% of the total
- Cost per household
- $1,560Per year on $26,000 taxable spend
- Jurisdiction layers
- 3Stacked into the combined rate
6% in Richmond — low. It ranks 85 of 94 covered metros, -1.95 pts against the 7.95% median. On $26,000 of taxable household spending that is $1,560 a year, $507 below it.
Local government sets 1.7% of the total, 28% of the bill; the state takes 4.3%. 3 layers stack: Virginia state 4.3%, City of Richmond local option 1%, Central Virginia regional transportation 0.7%. The City of Richmond local option increment at 1% is the largest local piece — 59% of everything local, worth $260 a year on its own.
2 of 2 covered Virginia metros, level with the 6% state median. The in-state spread runs 6% in Richmond to 6% in Virginia Beach — 0 points wide. Richmond is the cheapest covered metro in Virginia; no in-state line is worth crossing.
Same bracket nationally: Boise, ID (6%); Louisville, KY (6%); Baltimore, MD (6%). A household relocating between Richmond and any of them sees no meaningful change in sales tax.
Scale: 229,395 residents, roughly 91,758 households. At $26,000 of taxable spend each, the 1.7% local share pulls about $40,557,036 a year from residents alone — before any visitor or business spending, which in a metro this size is where the rest comes from.
The Central Virginia regional add-on took effect in 2020 and applies across the Richmond region, not just inside the city.
Rates move when a district measure passes or a local option expires. Confirm the current figure with the Virginia Department of Taxation before filing or quoting it to a customer.
Jurisdiction breakdown
Every layer that makes up the combined rate, and how much of the total each one contributes.
| Jurisdiction | Level | Rate | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia state | state | 4.3% | 72% |
| City of Richmond local option | county | 1% | 17% |
| Central Virginia regional transportation | special district | 0.7% | 12% |
| Combined rate | 6% |
Richmond sales tax reference table
Tax due at 6% on common purchase amounts.
| Purchase | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.60 | $10.60 |
| $25 | $1.50 | $26.50 |
| $50 | $3.00 | $53.00 |
| $100 | $6.00 | $106.00 |
| $500 | $30.00 | $530.00 |
| $1,000 | $60.00 | $1060.00 |
| $5,000 | $300.00 | $5300.00 |
| $25,000 | $1500.00 | $26500.00 |
Reverse out sales tax
Enter a receipt total and we split the item price from the 6% tax collected.
Backing out 6% for Richmond, VA.
- Item price before tax
- $100
- Sales tax collected
- $6
What this rate applies to
Virginia publishes the taxable base separately from the rate. Groceries, prescription drugs, clothing and services are treated differently state to state, and several categories in Virginia are taxed at reduced rates or exempt entirely. The Central Virginia regional add-on took effect in 2020 and applies across the Richmond region, not just inside the city. Check the Virginia Department of Taxation guidance for the category you are pricing before assuming 6% applies.
Richmond at a glance
- Population
- 229,395
- Median household income
- $60,485
- County
- Richmond City
- ZIP codes covered
- 12
Compare with other Virginia cities
Other covered Virginia metros and how they compare.
Neighboring districts tax profiles
The closest covered jurisdictions by county and ZIP sectional centre, with the rate difference against this metro.
Compare Richmond with another metro
Side-by-side rate stacks and the dollar difference on a $1,000 purchase.
Cities near Richmond
Straight-line distance, estimated drive time and the rate charged there.
Download this metro's data
The Richmond jurisdiction stack, combined rate (6%), effective date and Census figures are published as open files. Free to use with attribution — no key, no signup.
More Richmond data
Other Richmond datasets on this site.
- Richmond population and income
- Richmond property tax
- Richmond cost of living
- Richmond home values and rent
- Richmond crime rates
- Richmond public schools
- Richmond weather normals
- Richmond commute times
- Richmond jobs and wages
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