Virginia property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Virginia property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Virginia Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Virginia Guide:
Virginia Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Virginia property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Virginia has NO statewide homestead exemption (the Va. Code 34-4 ‘homestead exemption’ is a bankruptcy/creditor protection). Real estate tax and any relief are set locally by each county/city. The one statewide benefit is the full disabled-veteran exemption (below).
How much / how it works: No statewide value exemption. Relief depends on your locality. Confirm with your local Commissioner of the Revenue / city assessor.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Real Estate Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled – a LOCAL-OPTION program (Va. Code 58.1-3210) that each county/city may adopt for owners 65+ or permanently and totally disabled, with income and asset limits set locally (Northern Virginia limits are high; rural limits lower). Relief can be a full/partial exemption or a deferral. Apply with your local Commissioner of the Revenue (deadlines are local, often around April 1).
How much / how it works: Set by your locality – income/asset limits and relief amount vary widely. Confirm with your county/city.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veterans Exemption (Va. Code 58.1-3219.5; Va. Const. art. X sec. 6-A) – a STATEWIDE, mandatory FULL exemption of real estate tax on the principal residence of a veteran rated 100% permanent and total service-connected disabled (or 100% individually unemployable). Unremarried surviving spouses (death on/after Jan 1, 2011), and surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in the line of duty, also qualify. NO income or asset limit. File with the local
Commissioner of the Revenue with VA certification.
How much / how it works: Full (100%) exemption of the home’s real estate tax; no cap. Confirm with your local Commissioner of the Revenue.
Disability Relief
Permanently and totally disabled homeowners can qualify for the local-option Elderly and Disabled Real Estate Tax Relief (same program as seniors), with income/asset limits set by the locality. Certification of disability is required.
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How much / how it works: Set by your locality; confirm income/asset limits with your county/city.
Not sure which Virginia breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Virginia Property Tax Exemptions
Virginia property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Virginia taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Virginia property tax exemptions are available?
Virginia has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Virginia?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Virginia property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Virginia property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Virginia Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Virginia on this page were verified from official Virginia state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.