Amherst County, Virginia

Tax rates are set each year by the Board of Supervisors during the month of April.

Personal Property Tax Due Dec 5th

All cities and counties in Virginia have a personal property tax. Amherst County taxes vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motor homes), camping trailers, boat trailers, utility trailers, recreational vehicles, mobile homes, boats, and business furniture, equipment, inventory, machinery, and tools. Assessments are based on 100% of the NADA Car Guide clean trade value as of January 1st of each year. If the vehicle is not listed in the NADA Car Guide, the assessment is 90% of the cost. Code of VA Section 58.1-3518 requires every taxpayer owning any personal property subject to taxation (vehicles, boats, trailers, motorcycles, camping trailers) shall file a return by May 1 with the Commissioner of the Revenue.

Military VA Residents

All vehicles owned by a military individual who claims Virginia as their legal state of residence are subject to Personal Property tax.

Vehicles Sold, Junked or Moved Out of Amherst County

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

What is the Personal Property Tax Relief?

The Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 provides tax relief for passenger cars, motorcycles, and pickup or panel trucks having a registered gross weight of less than 7,501 pounds. To qualify, a vehicle must: 1) be owned by an individual or leased by an individual under a contract requiring the individual to pay personal property taxes; AND 2) be used less than 50% for business purposes. Motor homes, trailers, and farm-use vehicles do not qualify for tax relief.

Does your vehicle qualify for Car Tax Relief?

If you can answer YES to any of the following questions, your motor vehicle is considered by State Law to have a business use and does NOT qualify for Car Tax Relief. 1) Is more than 50% of the mileage for the year used as a business expense for Federal Income Tax purposes OR reimbursed by an employer?; 2) Is more than 50% of the depreciation associated with the vehicle deducted as a business expense for Federal Income Tax purposes?; 3) Is the cost of the vehicle expensed pursuant to Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Service Code?; 4) Is the vehicle leased by an individual and the leasing company pays the tax without reimbursement from the individual? **Please note** Starting January 1, 2012, high mileage will be taken into consideration if a 762 Personal Property form is filed before May 1. Provide a copy of the vehicle's last inspection receipt for proof of mileage.

Business Personal Property Tax To Be Filed By May 1st and Tax Due Dec 5th

Business Personal Property Tax is assessed to each business on the property used in the trade or business (such as furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, machinery, and tools) owned on January 1st. Business Personal Property Tax Returns must be filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue on or before May 1st. Businesses must provide a list of properties indicating the description, date of purchase, and original cost for each item. If you do not receive a form, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue.

We currently mail out business personal property returns to all businesses currently on our tax rolls as of January 1 of each year.