Personal Property

The Code of Virginia Section § 58.1-3503 defines personal property as automobiles, trucks, mobile homes, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, and business personal property - such as furniture, fixtures, computers and construction equipment.

Tax Day

Virginia State Code Section § 58.1-3515 defines January 1st as tax day and requires localities to value personal property as of January 1st. Fluvanna County is a non-prorating locality; personal property tax is based on vehicles owned on January 1st each year. If you own a vehicle on January 1st, you will pay taxes for the full year. If you purchase a vehicle after January 1st, you will not pay personal property tax on that vehicle until the following year. 

Personal Property Assessments

The Commissioner of the Revenue is responsible for the assessment of all personal property with taxable status in Fluvanna County as of January 1st. The Code of Virginia Section § 58.1-3503 requires Commissioners of the Revenue to use a recognized pricing guide to assess vehicles for personal property tax. The use of individual sales or trade-in offers as the basis for a vehicle's assessment is not permitted under Virginia state law. Fluvanna County utilizes the average trade-in value in the January Eastern Edition J.D. Power Official Used Car Guide.

If the model and year of a vehicle is not listed in the recognized pricing guide, the law permits the vehicle to be valued on the basis of percentage of original cost, to reflect fair market value. To ensure uniformity in valuation for vehicles of the same make and model, the office of the Commissioner of the Revenue uses the original cost as reported from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Fluvanna County does offer an adjustment for high mileage on vehicles. In order to have your vehicle adjusted for high mileage you would need complete the application for high mileage discount and provide proof (i.e., state inspection, oil change receipt, repair bill, etc.) of mileage as close to January 1st. Pictures of odometers will not be accepted. Application and proof must be submitted by December 5th each year. An appeal may be filed if the condition of the vehicle is such that it has major structural and/or mechanical damage as of January 1st. If you believe your assessment is in error due to the condition of the vehicle (not due to average wear and tear), you may appeal the assessment by submitting the application for personal property appeal along with supporting documentation (i.e., repair estimates, pictures, etc.) by December 5th each year.

Personal Property Tax Relief (PPTR)

Personal Property Tax Relief (PPTR) is provided for any personal use passenger car, motorcycle, pickup or panel truck having a registered gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less on January 1st; business use vehicles are not eligible for PPTR. Qualified vehicles are reflected on the tax bill with a "Y" and show a reduction for the portion of the tax the Commonwealth of Virginia will pay to Fluvanna County. For qualified vehicles, the tax bill is reduced by the applicable tax relief percentage for the tax year on the first $20,000 of value. 

Military Regulations

Active duty military personnel with a legal residence other than Virginia are exempt from Fluvanna personal property taxes. In order to be exempt, a January leave and earnings statement (LES) must be filed each year with the Commissioner of the Revenue to verify legal residence. All vehicles owned by military individuals who claim Virginia as their legal state of residence are subject to personal property taxes.

Attention:

• If you have disposed (sold, traded, gifted or salvaged) of any titled items with the Department of Motor Vehicles, this information would need to be reported to DMV at (804) 497-7100 or online at www.dmv.virginia.gov

• If you have disposed (sold, traded, gifted or salvaged) of a watercraft this information would need to be reported to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources at (804) 367-1011 or online at www.dwr.virginia.gov