Active Duty

Vehicle Taxes and Fees (“Car Taxes”)

Vehicles owned by full-time active duty service members and spouse absent from their state of residence or domicile may be exempted from local taxation upon application to Department of Tax Administration (DTA).

Real Estate

All active duty personnel who own real estate in Fairfax County must pay county real estate taxes. Most homeowners’ real estate taxes are collected by their mortgage companies in their monthly mortgage payments and are in turn forwarded to the county in two installments. The first installment is due July 28 and the second installment is due December 5. If you pay real estate taxes directly to the county, your tax bill is mailed to you a month before it is due.

Income Tax

Income earned in Virginia, other than military pay, is taxable even though reported to the home state. This income should be reported on a Nonresident State Income Tax return. The Virginia State income tax is administered by the Virginia Department of Taxation (TAX), PO Box 760, Richmond, VA 23206. Call 804-367-8031 to reach the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Extensions

For Personal Property and Real Estate taxes, state law does allow an extension for payment while a service member is deployed outside of the United States. (Code of Virginia §58.1-3916)

• To request a payment extension under this provision, the service member should notify DTA of his/her deployment and pay within 90 days of post deployment. Documentation, preferably a copy of military orders, will be required.

Code of Virginia §58.1-341 allows for a 90-day extension for filing income taxes for deployed members of the armed services of the United States deployed outside of the United States. Such extension shall end and the taxes become due 90 days following the completion of such member’s deployment. Contact the Virginia Department of Taxation for more information.

Veterans

A military person who retires and remains in Fairfax County must report the change of status within 60 days. You also will become liable to Fairfax County for county personal property tax at that time.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has adopted a lower car tax rate of $0.01 per $100 of assessed value on one motor vehicle owned and regularly used by a qualifying disabled veteran. (Code of Virginia §58.1-3506(A)(19))

Certain disabled veterans and their surviving spouses are exempt from local real estate tax on their principal residence and a reduced vehicle tax rate for one vehicle.

Surviving spouses of a member of the armed force killed in action may be exempt from local real estate tax on their principle residence.